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1 



DONALD PATTERSON’S 


DAUGHTER. 



MRS. S. K. REEVES, 

Author of ** Young Eagle," “ Larry Gilbert," Etc. 





PHILADELPHIA : 

THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 
1122 Chestnut Street. 

1893. 






PUBLISHER’S NOTE. 

The story in this hook was suggested by personal obser- 
vations of the writer during a summer residence in the 
West. The old church described is patterned after one 
that was seen there and which had stood for twenty-five or 
thirty years. The stony roads, the peculiar idioms, and 
some of the very people are here represented, and give a 
lifelikeness and reality to the story. 


[Copyright, 1893, by The Aincrican Sunday-School Union.] 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

CHAPTER L 

The Decision 7 

CHAPTER 11. 

Getting Acquainted 22 

CHAPTER HI. 

Changes 34 

CHAPTER IV. 

Jerusha 46 

CHAPTER V. 

The Edgars . . . . • 57 

CHAPTER VI. 

Miss Prissy and Miss Derby .... 68 
CHAPTER VII. 

New Friends 81 

CHAPTER VIII. 

An Eventful Walk 91 

CHAPTER IX. 

Summer Visitors 103 

CHAPTER X. 

The Apple Bee 114 


( 5 ) 


6 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 


CHAPTER XL 

A Morning Talk 125 

CHAPTER XII. 

Needed Improvements 136 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Missionary Meeting ..... 148 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Sowing Tares 162 

CHAPTER XV. 

Leaven 174 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Esther 186 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Trying Her Wings 199 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

In Season and Out of Season . . .211 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Home Again 221 

CHAPTER XX. 

A Peep at Old Friends 232 

CHAPTER XXL 

Conclusion 243 


DONAID PATTERSON’S DAD6HTEE. 


CHAPTER I. 


THE DECISION. 



|F what use are earthly trials ? Clara Ger- 


^ maine could now answer the question, 
though when her afflictions came, they ^ were 
new and strange and dark. It was some time 
before she found that God’s severe handling of 
his people is pure love. She was the only 
daughter of a wealthy merchant, who by spec- 
ulation and lavish expenditure lost his fortune, 
and was made to see b}^ bitter experience that 
the slower gains of an industrious and pains- 
taking life are much surer than schemes for 
hastily gotten wealth. 

It was not a disgraceful failure, for the sale 
of the property realized a sufficient amount to 
pay the creditors. But Mr. Germaine was now 
a poor man, with a wife and daughter to share 
his poverty. Consequent upon the anxiety and 
labor in settling his affairs his health gave way. 


8 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


and after a few months he died, followed a year 
after by his wife. 

Clara, left an orphan at twenty, was now 
thrown upon her own resources. She was a 
girl of strong character, as well as an earnest 
Christian. Having a good education she 
opened a select school which proved moderately 
successful. In the same town lived her mother’s 
only sister, Mrs. Price, and this relative after 
the father’s death had sheltered the mother and 
child, and still gave a home to Clara. She was 
a widow with three children, all married and 
living in another state. 

Clara being an intelligent and attractive girl, 
Mrs. Price’s fondest hopes for her niece were 
that she might make an eligible marriage and 
that she herself might live to see her well pro- 
vided for in the future. 

She therefore expressed much disappointment 
when Clara informed her that she had engaged 
herself to Donald Patterson, a theological 
student who was soon to finish his course of 
study, and that they hoped to be married as 
soon as he had received a call to become the 
pastor of a church. 

Mrs. Price said she had nothing against the 
young man. She had met him a few times and 
liked him very well, and it was possible, as his 
attainments were highly spoken of, that he 


THE DECISION. 


9 


might secure a situation in some church with a 
salary that would amply support them. But, 
generally speaking, my dear,” she said, “minis- 
ters are not blessed with wealth ; indeed very 
many of them spend their whole lives in strait- 
ened circumstances. Urge him, Clara, if you 
can, to get a city charge. There will not only 
be less exposure — and you know you are not 
very strong — but there is always more prom- 
inence given to city preachers, and if they are 
capable men, as Mr. Patterson seems to be, they 
are more sure of preferment. A trip to Europe 
would be of immense benefit to you.” 

“I am afraid. Auntie,” replied Clara, laugh- 
ing, “that your mind has been dwelling upon the 
goose that laid the golden egg, and that you are 
inclined to be worldly minded. You must admit 
that preachers, and good ones too, are as much 
needed in country churches as in cities, and you 
well know' that Donald cannot step into any 
pulpit unbidden. I believe he will do what he 
considers the best for himself. He said to me 
that he had heard his professor of pastoral the- 
ology say, -that it is generally better for compe- 
tent graduates to take a country or some inter- 
mediate charge before going to a city church, 
where so much is expected of one. I do not 
mean to influence him in his choice if he has 
more than one position offered him. I have 


10 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

confidence in his wisdom and judgment, and 
am willing to go where he leads. He has more 
than one place in view, and he wrote that I 
would hear from him on the subject as soon as 
he could feel that he had been divinely led, in 
accepting a field in which to labor.” 

A letter came the next day. Clara took it 
to her room and locked the door, she sat won- 
dering, in case it should tell of a decision, what 
the new life would be, which the missive be- 
fore her would unfold. Then she opened it 
and read : 

“ My Dear Claea : 

“I know you have been daily look- 
ing for an answer to your last letter. Let me tell you how 
much I appreciate your confidence and willingness to 
abide by any decision I may feel called upon to make. My 
mind has been wonderfully wrought upon by a sermon 
recently preached by a Western minister in the interest of 
Home Missions. The sermon was preached to a large num- 
ber of students. The text taken was: Go ye. First we 
heard of the great need there is for Christian workers. The 
clouds of scepticism and irreligion are settling upon many 
Western neighborhoods, and a positive duty and responsi- 
bility is laid upon some one ; the gospel must be preached 
even to those who do not ask for it; we must go to them 
and constrain reluctant ears to listen. 

“ These thoughts came home to me. I felt at once charged 
with this duty. I talked with this minister and he told 
me of a locality in which he is greatly interested, Cedar 
Run, — no minister within twenty miles. Five members of 
our denomination, and a halt dozen or more who have been 


THE DECISION. 


11 


members of other churches. There is a small church which 
followed the little Union Sunday-school. It is evidently a 
good opening. There are other small places in the county 
equally destitute of preaching, which an active workman, 
as I trust I shall prove myself to be, can visit, and where I 
can do good pioneer work. The response to this call that 
came from my heart was ‘ Here am I ; Lord, send me.’ A 
more lucrative and easier position has been offered me, but 
in my dreams, and my waking moments the command, ‘ Go 
ye,’ has held me and constrained me. I know it means 
hard work, a salary barely sufficient for our needs, com- 
panionship with the uneducated for the most part. But to 
God’s eye all souls are equally precious. If there is any 
difference I think his loving heart must yearn over the 
neglected ones who are living without the means of grace 
because there is no one ready to carry to them the offer of 
salvation. 

“ Now, Clara, I have told you what my feelings are in 
the matter, but I do not mean to be selfish or persistent, 
and unless you can give a hearty assent to my decision, I 
will reverse it, and we will find another home and field less 
arduous. Write me all that is in your heart on the sub- 
ject. * * * * 

“Donald Patterson.” 

Clara’s letter in reply was written and sealed 
before she retired. 

It was with some misgiving she told her aunt 
the contents of Mr. Patterson’s letter. Mrs. 
Price was greatly disturbed by it. “ You 
know, Clara,” said she, “ I stand to you in the 
light of a mother. How can I give my con- 
sent that you should go so far away among total 
strangers in a wild and sparsely settled country? 


12 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


I consider Mr. Patterson really unkind and in- 
considerate, to say the least. I hope, as you 
say, he has another offer in the east, you will 
by all means persuade him to accept of it.” 

“ Dear Aunt, I would be unworthy of him, 
and -of my Christian profession if I could not 
make this sacrifice. When Donald made up 
his mind he would be a minister, he decided to 
follow the leadings of Providence in accepting 
a situation. 

“I am not alone in believing he would fill 
and grace a more influential church than the 
little one he has decided upon, but Donald is 
conscientious, and I will not urge him against 
his convictions. I have written to him that I 
will go with him gladly, and will work by his 
side to the best of my ability.” 

“ Just to think ! ” replied her aunt, “ I came 
near buying for you that lovely silk at De 
Haven’s. I wanted you to see it first, or I 
would have paid for it and had it sent home. 
Well, I suppose a few calico dresses and ging- 
ham aprons will be more suitable for your new 
sphere, and as for a wedding dress, you can 
make out with any thing, as you will never have 
an opportunity to wear it again. There will be 
no evening receptions, I presume, in your home 
in the backwoods.” 

“ Dear Auntie,” exclaimed Clara, as she threw 


THE DECISION. 


13 


her arms about her neck, and pressed a kiss 
upon her forehead, “ You must not be dis- 
tressed about me when I am so happy and satis- 
fied. I do thoroughly appreciate the love and 
kindness you have always shown me, and I do 
feel sorry to part with you. I would ask you 
to accompany us, did I not know that you have 
a more comfortable home than we can offer you. 
Do not feel as if I were throwing myself away, 
when in reality I feel as if my life-work is about 
to commence. I want you to pray for me that 
I may be fitted for my new life, and be enabled 
to exert all the powers I possess for my Master.” 

Two months from this time the Rev. Mr. 
Patterson and his bride were on their way 
West. Their destination. Cedar Run, was a 
small settlement fifty miles from the railroad. 
Their goods had been sent as freight to the 
nearest station from which they would be carted. 

After they had gone a few miles in the stage, 
the way seemed rather dreary, though the 
morning was bright and the skies clear. They 
passed a few comfortable looking houses, but 
most of those they saw were very small and 
generally built of logs. Occasionally their way 
led through a small settlement. A store and 
blacksmith shop were the prominent objects, 
around which were men on horseback and in 
their shirt sleeves, with large straw hats on their 


14 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

heads. Women with sun-bonnets could also be 
seen peering curiously at the strangers and at 
the large trunk which accompanied them. 
“The stage,” as the leather covered, two-seated 
wagon was called, was always an object of in- 
terest, as it passed twice a week bringing to the 
small post-ofiQces their papers and letters. The 
driver himself was looked upon as a man of 
consequence, coming as he did in contact with 
the railroad, and in the little inn where he put 
up for the night, he managed to gather news of 
different sorts which he distributed in larger 
or smaller quantities as he passed along his 
route. 

There were small hills to be climbed in that 
rolling country and corresponding hollows and 
low lands between, with their muddy pools 
across the road through which the tired animals 
struggled on their way. 

“ It’s ginerally worse than this,” said the 
driver with a view to relieve their minds of any- 
thing discouraging in the present trip. “ Often 
after a rain these ’ere streams turn to rivers, 
when people have to swim the horses to get 
across, and sometimes I have had to wait a day 
till the water went down. But such land you 
didn’t have I reckon where you come from. 
Why the corn that’s planted in yonder field 
will grow ten feet high or more ; ye might get 


THE DECISION. 


15 


lost entirely in it, and the same crop go in agin 
next year, without no fertilizin’ or nothin’. 
There’s richness for you.” At this quotation 
from the immortal Dickens accidentally made, 
the husband and wife who had been gravely 
taking in the freaks of the streams and the 
remarkable quality of the soil, laughed out 
merrily, in which act the driver joined. “ You’ll 
see more things than these to tickle you,” con- 
tinued the loquacious driver. “ See there now ; 
bushels of strawberries on them vines along the 
road and nobody to use them but the birds.” 

“ They do look tempting,” said Mr. Patter- 
son. “If you will stop ten minutes I would 
like to relieve the vines of part of their load.” 

“ Certainly, certainly. If your wife will 
hold the bosses I have a small pail here I can 
fill in a jiffy.” 

The juicy fruit was very acceptable, and the 
little variation helped to pass the time away. 
There were yet miles of prairie land to be 
passed through, extensive tracts, destitute of 
trees and covered with coarse grass, intermin- 
gled at times along their path with flowers of 
the brightest hues. Slowly the day wore on 
and darkness had settled down upon the land- 
scape when they drew up to the door of an inn, 
and the driver informed them that they had 
reached Cedar Run. 


16 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


The landlord came out in his shirt sleeves 
and without a vest, bearing a lantern which he 
held up, as he saw there were passengers to be 
provided for. He was overflowing with kind- 
ness and hearty good will. One glance had 
told him who they were. “ The new preacher 
and his wife!” he exclaimed. “We’ve been 
looking for you these two days. Come right 
in, glad to see you. Here, Maria,” as a woman 
came to the door, “ ’tend to this lady ; it’s the 
minister’s wife.” 

The landlady shook hands in a friendly man- 
ner. “ Poor dear, you look tired : come right 
into the bed-room and freshen up a little. 
Your husband is seein' to the trunk, he’ll be in 
soon, and I’ll send your suppers right away. 
We’ve had a barn raisin’, and the men are eat- 
ing their suppers in the kitchen. You’ll feel 
better when you have a cup of tea, and get a 
night’s sleep.” 

The next morning in answer to his inquiry, 
the landlord informed Mr. Patterson of a va- 
cant house three miles away and about half a 
mile from the church which he could have, and 
offered to take him over to see it. 

The house was built of logs, a story and a 
half high, with two rooms and a shed down- 
stairs, with an attic above reached by steps 
not much better than a ladder. The front fence 


THE DECISION. 


17 


was broken, the gate off its hinges, and Mr. 
Patterson at once felt he had never been in so 
poor a looking place. 

Perhaps the landlord judged from Mr. Pat- 
terson’s look that he was ill pleased, for he 
said, “It looks poor to you no doubt, but I 
can’t see just now that there’s any thing better 
to offer. If you take it, we’ll mend it up a bit, 
and the women will clean and white-wash and 
see that it is fit for you to move in.” 

Mr. Patterson did not reply for a moment. 
The thought of introducing his wife into such 
a home grated upon his feelings, but there was 
no alternative, for they had decided beforehand 
that a little home of their own, however plain, 
would be better than boarding around, as had 
been proposed. 

“I would rather not have my wife see the 
house in this condition,” he said at length. “ I 
think if you have a carpenter in the neighbor- 
hood we can make some improvement.” 

“We have no real carpenter that can spare 
the time, but there is a jack-of-all-trades at my 
house now, helping with the barn. I’ll send 
him here to-morrow if you like, and I know 
another man who will clean up the stable and 
yard, and spade up the garden. There is time 
yet for potatoes, turnips and cabbage, if you 
choose to plant.” 


18 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


Mrs. Patterson was persuaded to stay at home . 
the next day to rest, and write letters, while 
her husband full of zeal, accompanied by the 
landlord and another man, with a wagon load 
of boards, a large bucket of mortar and a bag 
of lime, started for the new house. 

All went to work with a good will, and the 
result was quite satisfactory. The fence was 
mended and white washed, a neat path cut to 
the front door, and another around to the back. 
The bare spots in the yard were sodded and a 
flower bed dug so that Clara could plant such 
home seeds as would be likely to bloom that 
season. A set of shelves were run up along 
side of the kitchen fire-place to hold the minis- 
ter’s books, Mr. Patterson rightly judging that 
this room would be the living room in winter 
and his study as well. The whole place was 
afterward scrubbed and whitewashed by two 
or three women who volunteered for the pur- 
pose. They were quite enthusiastic at the re- 
sult of their efforts, and one of them was quite 
free to say in Mr. Patterson’s hearing, that the 
persons who wouldn’t be satisfied with such a 
tidy looking place wouldn’t be satisfied any 
where. 

Mr. Patterson, as he heard them, gave a sigh, 
not for himself. He felt strong to endure any 
privations that might come, but the thought 


THE DECISION. 


19 


was forced upon him whether he had done right 
in bringing his bride into a home where not 
only her surroundings must be poor and trying, 
but where toil and even poverty would be likely 
to meet them at every step. 

The face he carried to his watching wife was 
one of discouragement. Her quick eye dis- 
cerned it. 

“ Donald, dear, you are tired out ; you have 
worked too hard, and I have been idly resting 
all the day.” 

He drew her down upon his lap, the tears 
came into his eyes as he looked into her bright 
face. 

“ My darling, I am beginning to fear that I 
have not counted the cost and that I may have 
been unwise in deciding upon this field.” 

“ Is it for yourself you shrink, or for me ? ” 
she asked. 

“ For you, of course. I am a man, and can 
easily endure hardships ; but I fear lest the time 
may come when you will have just reason for 
reproaching me for my course in bringing you 
here, away from home and congenial friends.” 

“ Never that, Donald,” she hastened to reply. 
“ Let your mind be at rest on that point now and 
forever. Remember what is good enough for 
you, is certainly good enough for me. Though 
I am sitting here, I am not a long-eared, pink- 


20 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTER. 


eyed lap dog that must be fed by tid-bits and 
candy and must be nursed and have special 
treatment. No matter about our surroundings ; 
we will have each other and can make a home 
anywhere. Perhaps you did not know that as 
soon as I was certain that the West was to be 
my home, I made a point of reading all the 
articles from our frontier missionaries, and the 
very worst accounts I read I imagined might be 
our own experience. So you see I am prepared 
for anything.” 

“ I see,” he said with a loving glance and 
caress, “ you mean to be a real helpmeet to me, 
for you are looking as serenely sweet and satis- 
fied as if you. were preparing to be a queen 
upon her throne, instead of being sovereign 
over a husband and log house with three 
rooms.” 

The three hundred dollars Mrs. Price had in- 
tended to expend upon her niece’s trousseau 
she gave to her. 

One hundred dollars had been spent for arti- 
cles absolutely needful, which had not been 
provided by kind friends at home. 

In two or three days the house was ready for 
them, and Mr. and Mrs. Patterson were driven 
to their new home. 

A covered basket accompanied them well 


THE DECISION. 


21 


filled with provisions by the thoughtful land- 
lady. 

The carpets, a neat ingrain for the front 
room, a rag one for the kitchen with two strips 
for the upper room were put in order, the cook- 
stove placed in the shed until cool weather, the 
best bed-stead and bureau in the room which 
was to be both spare room and parlor, and it 
was not until evening that the friends who had 
been assisting them through the day withdrew, 
and the minister and his wife were left to them- 
selves. 

Alone in their own house they knelt at the 
family altar, while the husband prayed that 
God would command his blessing upon them 
and their work now and forever. 


CHAPTER n. 


GETTING ACQUAINTED. 

T here were twenty-five adults and some 
children at the service on the following 
Sabbath, most of them attracted by the novelty 
of the situation, and the desire to see what the 
minister and his wife were like. Clara glanced 
around the audience room. A table at one 
end held a much defaced Bible, and there were 
some plain wooden benches upon which were 
scattered a few hymn-books of different sorts. 
But the day was beautiful without ; the waving 
of the trees could be seen through the open 
windows, and occasionally the singing of birds 
broke in upon the stillness. 

The minister did not attempt to preach a 
sermon. He opened the service with prayer, 
and then told his listeners why he had been in- 
duced to leave his eastern home and settle 
among them. He had come to do them all the 
good he could, and in return would depend 
upon them to aid him in such ways as was pos- 
sible. He urged them to be faithful in their 
attendance at the services which would be held 
( 22 ) 


GETTING ACQUAINTED, 


23 


every Sabbath morning, and hoped they would 
bring their neighbors with them. The Sabbath 
school would be continued in the afternoon as 
heretofore, where old as well as young would be 
welcome. He had brought some Sunday-school 
and other religious papers with him, and hoped 
to have the grant of a new library from friends 
in the East, or from the Sunday-school society. 

The children came in the afternoon, with some 
adults. Two sisters, maiden ladies by the name 
of Sharp, were willing to take classes. Mr. 
Patterson divided the rest of the scholars be- 
tween himself and his wife. 

Mr. Patterson was a good singer. He took 
up two verses of the hymn, 

“ All hail the power of Jesus’name,’^ 

and taught them to the scholars, after which 
they were sung with such energy that he felt 
the singing was going to be a great help to the 
services. 

“ How long is it since you have had preach- 
ing in your place ? ’’ asked the minister of Mr. 
Townsend, who was at this time his nearest 
neighbor. 

“ We've had none for some time now, and 
never any regular preachin’. Some man came 
along and organized a Union Sunday-school two 
or three years ago. Now and then some one 


24 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTEE. 


would come along with tracts and books, but 
he didn’t stay long, though we generally man- 
aged to drum up a crowd to hear him Sunday 
mornings. Jimmy Hines has done most of the 
preachin’ we have had ; he’s what they call an 
exhorter ; don’t belong to no denomination, I 
reckon ; in fact he’s been doin’ carpentering 
for the last five years, but Jimmy has the pith 
and marrow of the gospel in him, and now and 
then when it’s been a long time and we’ve had 
no preachin’ he just sails in and gives it to us. 
And he does it with a sanction, I tell you ; his 
words come easy when he gets fairly started, 
and sometimes he hollers so loud that you 
would think somebody’s life was in danger. 
Jimmy doesn’t set up for no fine gentleman,” 
looking askance at Mr. Patterson’s neat black 
suit ; “ he can’t afford it. When the weather’s 
hot he thinks nothin’ of preachin’ in his shirt 
sleeves, and we don’t mind it neither, seein’ 
many of us is in the same boat, and glad of the 
chance.” 

Ignoring the last remarks Mr. Patterson re- 
plied with a smile, “ I like fervency of spirit, 
and will be very glad to make Mr. Hines’ ac- 
quaintance. I have always believed pious lay- 
men can do a work for Christ among certain 
people better than the minister can, for some 
are apt to think when a minister talks or ex- 


GETTING ACQUAINTED. 


25 


postulates with them, he does it because he 
considers it his business to do so, but a man 
who can live and talk Christ among his neigh- 
bors and friends shows himself a true Christian 
workman. Was Mr. Hines at the service last 
Sunday?” 

“No, he wa’nt there. Jimmy was laid up 
last Sunday. Fact is, Jimmy now and then 
takes a little more than is good for him.” 
Then, observing his hearer’s grave look, “ but 
not stiddy, oh, no ! Jimmy is not one of your 
regular topers ; he only takes it at times just 
as anybody might, and it doesn’t often get the 
better of him. He was at a barn raisin’ Satur- 
day, and we was short of hands, and it was 
tough work for us as was there, and at such a 
time a man needs a little extra toddy to put 
life and strength into him,” glancing at the 
minister’s face, but not drawing from it the ex- 
pression he desired ; “ the truth is, I took 
nearly as much as Jimmy, but it takes a heap 
of whiskey to capsize me. I was at the church 
all right ; sat through the whole of your talk 
and never slept a wink.” 

“Do you ever have any temperance meetings 
in the neighborhood ? ” was Mr. Patterson’s 
next question. 

“ Can’t say we do ; none of any account. 
Though there was a man visitin’ down the Run 


26 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


they called a lecturer, and Job Stetzer, who 
wouldn’t be hired to drink anything stronger 
than molasses and water, tried to boom him up, 
and had the church opened for him, borrowed 
candles and lamps to light up with, but it was 
no go. There was only a lot of old women 
and boys to listen to him. Some of the boys 
signed the pledge. My Tom was one, and he 
keeps it too ; but I reckon he’ll get over it ; 
they generally do when they get older.” 

“ I sincerely hope not,” said the minister, as 
he made a mental note of this. “ How old is 
your son ? ” 

“ Nigh on to fifteen, and big for his age ; 
there he comes now. Tom ! ” he called out. 

Come here and speak to the minister.” 

Mr. Patterson scanned him closely as he came 
up. He was tall and rather ungainly in his ap- 
pearance, but his brown eyes were direct and 
fearless in their expression, and his whole coun- 
tenance showed decision of character. 

After a few words he agreed to drive the 
minister around the neighborhood in the after- 
noon, Mr. Townsend offering his horse and one- 
seated' wagon for the purpose. Tom was evi- 
dently pleased at the prospect, and promised to 
be on hand at the time appointed. 

It seemed to Mr. Patterson that he had never 
before quite realized the real difficulties of his 


GETTING ACQUAINTED, 


27 


new position. He had it is true, looked for 
luke-warraness among those who called them- 
selves Christians, he had imagined there would 
be certain forms of ungodliness he would have 
to contend with. He knew that people who 
never had the gospel could not expect to value 
it until they felt its power ; but there was here 
a low tone of morals, a want of moral percep- 
tion, and this people with their coarse ways of 
speech and living were making for him and his 
wife a low social level which would be far from 
agreeable. Could he elevate and improve a 
people that could respect and listen to a man 
in the pulpit who would even occasionally yield 
to the power of strong drink ? 

There was but one redeeming feature in his 
morning’s talk, and that was the stand Tom 
Townsend had taken. If he could mould the 
young men, gain their confidence and impress 
them with the need of rousing a strong tem- 
perance sentiment in the community, he might 
look for a change for the better by and by. 

Tom was rather shy as they started out on their 
trip, but Mr. Patterson’s cordial manner put 
him at his ease, so that he was ready to answer 
questions, and point out the homes of many of 
the people, at the same time giving the minister 
some insight into their character. Job Stetzer’s 
house being pointed out, Mr. Patterson ex- 


28 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


pressed the desire to stop and make him a call. 
The door opened into a clean kitchen, where 
Job sat smoking a pipe, while his wife, after 
shaking hands, bustled about and from another 
room brought a large splint rocking-chair in 
which she urged the minister to be seated. Job 
had the vigorous frame of one who had lived a 
life of honest toil. In his content and his wife’s 
good humor, showing itself by constant smiles, 
lay their greatest charm. 

The call was not a long one, but Mr. Patter- 
son gave Job to understand how greatly he 
counted on him as a helper in the good work 
he hoped to carry on, particularly since he had 
learned how staunch he was on the subject of 
temperance, “ w^hich I consider ” said he, “ one 
of religion’s strongest aids.” 

“ I believe it, I believe it, sir. The devil has 
no greater weapon when he wants to fight the 
Lord’s cause than rum. I never was much of a 
drinker myself, but I had a brother — a fine man 
he was too, barring the drink. It killed him 
at last after his family had been brought down 
to the very lowest pitch of poverty. Then I 
took a stand, and I never drank a drop from 
the time I helped to fill up his grave. His old- 
est boy went further west and made a home for 
his mother after a spell, and they’re doin’ well 
now. I haven’t heard you preach yet." Mary 


GETTING ACQUAINTED. 


29 


Ann went out last Sunday ; she was terribly 
pleased with the meetin’. She used to be a 
member in the place where she was brought 
up, and always likes to be on hand where there’s 
preachin’ and prayin’. I kalkilated to go, but 
the cow had strayed off and I thought it better 
to look her up, but I’ll be on hand next Sunday. 
I’m only too glad of the chance of bearin’ steady 
preachin’.” 

“ Now I would like to visit Jimmy Hines,” 
said Mr. Patterson ; “ are we very far from his 
house ? ” 

“ Half a mile from here ; there’s a cross cut 
through the woods which will bring us out 
quite near his place. I passed there an hour 
before dinner and saw him out in his garden. 
He was building a pig pen, so we are likely to 
find him at home.” 

There he was, singing in loud tones, 

“Who’ll join the army, the army of the Lord? ” 

the strokes of the hammer sounding between 
the words. 

He did not see the two approach and they 
were quite near him before he knew of their 
presence. He was not at all disconcerted how- 
ever, and received them most cordially. 

“ Glad to see you, brother Patterson ; come 


80 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTER. 

right into the house, and see my wife and 
baby.” 

Mr. Patterson was strongly attracted by this 
new acquaintance. He had a pleasant face, 
laughing blue eyes and in every word showed 
himself an easy-going, generous nature. He 
also seemed to have a strong religious side, as 
he assured the minister of his delight on hear- 
ing that he had settled among them, and that it 
was his desire to help him in any way that he 
could. 

“ I shall need help in the Sunday-school I am 
re-opening, and will count upon your assistance 
in singing both in the church and in the school.” 

“ I wasn’t very well last Sunday, but I shall 
be all right for next time.” 

“Yes; Mr. Townsend informed me of the 
nature of your illness,” replied the minister 
dryly. 

“ He let out on me, did he ? ” and Mr. Hines 
laughed, though his flushed face showed that he 
was rather ashamed of it. “ W ell, I do not get 
caught in that way often, though like the apostle 
Paul I take a little now and then for my stom- 
ach’s sake. Likely you don’t approve of tak- 
ing it at all.” 

“I do not; I think with the apostle Paul, 
that ‘ it is good neither to drink wine, nor any 
thing whereby thy brother stumbleth or is of- 


GETTING ACQUAINTED. 


31 


fended, or is made weak.’ As Christians we 
cannot be too careful to let our light shine and 
to strive to avoid even the very appearance of 
evil. 

“ I will not enter into the argument that the 
wine in Scripture differs much from the drinks 
of the present day that form an evil appetite. 
There is one verse in 1st Corinthians 6 : 10, 
‘ no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of 
God ; ’ that has always been enough to convince 
me of the inconsistency of Christian professors, 
— striving to follow the Master while serving 
the flesh and the devil at the same time.” 

Then judging from his hearer’s face that this 
conversation was not altogether agreeable to 
him, he held out his hand and said, “ excuse me 
if I have hurt your feelings. I did not come 
on this my first visit to you for the purpose of 
finding fault. We shall have opportunities for 
discussing this question again.” 

“ Now I am ready to be introduced to the 
wife and baby,” and so cordial and friendly was 
he in his manner, and so fervent was the prayer 
he made for the members of this little family, 
that Mr. Hines’ somewhat aggrieved feelings 
were quickly healed, and with great warmth at 
parting he urged the minister speedily to re- 
peat the visit and bring Mrs. Patterson with 
him. 


32 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

“ He’s of the right sort, Dolly,” he said to his 
wife, “though he did give it to me rather rough 
out in the yard. I’m willing to own he’s more 
than half right.” 

Tom Townsend too, was enthusiastic in re- 
peating the minister’s praises when he returned . 
home. “ No, he’s not stuck up,” in answer to 
the first question, “ no more than I am, and I’m 
going to stand up for him through thick and 
thin.” 

“ That’s right. Tommy,” said his older brother 
jeeringly. “ Keep right on and you’ll be ready 
to preach by the time this new parson steps 
out.” 

But Tom meant what he said, and when he 
walked into Sunday-school the next Sunday ac- 
companied by three boys of his own age the 
look of commendation bestowed upon him by 
Mr. Patterson, with the warm grasp of his 
hand, was sufficient reward. And Mr. Patter-, 
son soon found that if he was to reach the par- 
ents’ hearts he must accomplish it largely 
through the children, for the elders wedded to 
their life of indifference did not care to be 
roused to any great extent either to change 
their habits or reform their present mode of 
life. 

Mr. Patterson found his wife a help-meet of 
the true sort. Accepting the situation as it was 


GETTING ACQUAINTED. 


33 


presented to her, she made light of her priva- 
tions and discomforts, magnified her blessings, 
and with all her might cheered him when dis- 
couraged and led him to feel that with her at 
his side he ought to be strong and happy enough 
to encounter whatever obstacles his new work 
would bring. He did sometimes remonstrate, 
for fear her zeal would outrun her strength. 

“ Trials the most formidable will not seem so 
great if we make them together,” she would 
say. “ I know you are making sacrifices ; do 
you not think I am willing to make them too ? ” 
and as the young minister would look in her 
bright and trustful face his heart would grow 
light, and he could still thank God and take 
courage. 

Mr. Townsend’s horse and wagon, being 
freely offered for the purpose, were frequently 
called into use during the next month, Tom 
usually acting as driver and leader in the ex- 
peditions, which were intended to take in every 
family within five or six miles of the church. 
Clara frequently accompanied them, and the 
kindness and hospitality manifested in almost 
every instance went far to atone for unculti- 
vated manners and homely usages. 

3 


CHAPTER III. 


CHANGES. 

H eavy frosts came and whitened the prai- 
ries and stole the beauty from the flower 
beds, which notwithstanding their late planting 
had bloomed luxuriantly and been the admira- 
tion of the Cedar Run people. The many vis- 
itors and passers-by never seemed to have 
thought that they had time to bother over flow- 
ers, yet they confessed to a hearty delight in 
the parson’s flower beds. 

The minister and his wife were respected, 
and the people were satisfied with his preach- 
ing, yet as in most congregations there were 
elements of mischief abroad and it is no won- 
der that the tide of popularity, or appreciation 
was hindered at times by little outbreaks of 
prejudice, envy or restlessness in certain quar- 
ters. 

“Your wife’s white hands don’t look as if 
they had been much used to work,” remarked 
one woman to Mr. Patterson. In fact she told 
our Selindy that she had never done a washin’ 
in her life till she moved out here, tl^ough she 
( 34 ) 


CHANGES. 


35 


had often seen it done ; but she will find that 
seein’ and doin’ are two different things. 

“ The fact is Mr. Patterson,” won by his ap- 
parent attention, “ a preacher to live out here 
ought to have one of our western girls for a 
wife, one that is used to work and can go out 
in the garden and hoe the onions and taters, if 
it is needful.” 

Perhaps the minister never felt more inclined 
to vent his righteous indignation by giving “ a 
piece of his mind ” than he did on this occasion. 
He smothered his wrath however, but said in 
words that could not be misunderstood, “my 
wife suits exactly, and as I chose her to 
suit myself and no one else, I am sure no one has 
any right to complain. She well knew the dif- 
ficulties of the situation before she came, and 
such necessary things as she is ignorant of, she 
is quite able and willing to learn.” 

The visitor made a few more remarks, but 
ceased when she found they were not acceptable. 
On her way home she stopped and retailed to 
Miss Prissy Sharp her interview with the min- 
ister. “ Shouldn’t wonder if we’d find him in 
time rather overbearin’. I don’t see that there 
was anything in my sayin’ that some of our 
girls would like to have as good clothes for Sun- 
days as Miss Patterson wore every day. You 
don’t think there was any thing wrong in that. 


36 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

do you? Ministers and their families, I al- 
ways thought, ought to be examples to the 
flock, and not show their vanity by trying to 
outdress their neighbors.” 

“ For the land’s sake. Miss J ackson, if you 
said to the minister all that you’ve told me, I 
don’t wonder the man was riled. Mrs. Patter- 
son has to wear the clothes she brought with 
her. J ust wait a while, and if we are as slow 
payin’ the salary as we’ve been this last quarter, 
it will not be many years before her Sunday 
clothes will not be so good as the every day ones 
she now wears.” 

This remark had its effect upon Mrs. Jackson 
whose husband was one of the delinquents. 

“Well, I know Jake failed to make his pay- 
ment when they called for it, but he had a good 
chance just then to buy his winter’s pork and 
he couldn’t get credit for that, so that he hadn’t 
a cent left.” 

“ For my part, I don’t believe in stinting 
the minister,” said Miss Prissy. “We put the 
money on one side that belongs to him, and what 
we intend to give for missions ; and we live on 
the rest be it much or little, and I generally 
find if we don’t forget the Lord, he don’t for- 
get us.” 

“It’s all very well. Miss Prissy when you 
can do it, but I know it says somewhere in the 


CHANGES. 


37 


Bible that if you don’t provide for yourselves 
you are worse than infidels. We give what we 
conveniently can to religion, after providing for 
our own family, and I think it still holds true 
that if Mr. Patterson had married one of our 
smart western girls, she would have brought 
him in more and cost him less. Selindy has 
made five dollars on her chickens and eggs al- 
ready.” 

“ Well, he can’t get a divorce now,” replied 
Miss Prissy grimly ; and, if you take my ad- 
vice you’ll ‘ let well enough alone,’ and hold up 
the minister in every way possible. Cedar Run 
isn’t the only preaching place in the world, and 
we would go far and fare worse before we could 
lay our hands on Mr. Patterson’s equal.” 

“Pve nothing agin him,” said Mrs. Jackson, 
“ only I do hate to see folks try to appear better 
than anybody else,” and she took her depart- 
ure* 

Some of the farmers having promised a suf- 
ficient supply of hay and oats for a year, one 
hundred dollars of Aunt Price’s wedding gift 
were laid out in purchasing a horse, and a sec- 
ond-hand carriage which was in good repair, and 
the whole constituted what Clara called “one 
of our blessings.” Often during the pleasant 
weather the husband ajid wife after preparing a 
basket of lunch to be used as the occasion de- 


38 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


manded, would start directly after breakfast 
and ride for several miles making here and there 
a pastoral visit, sometimes choosing a pleasant 
shady spot to alight, while they would picnic, 
and Clara would sew while her husband read 
aloud from some interesting book or paper. 
They usually came home by Cedar Run post- 
office where they stopped for their mail, and 
also called at the ‘ tavern ’ where Mrs. Jenkins 
as well as her husband gave them a hearty wel- 
come. She always pressed upon them some 
refreshment, and insisted upon filling their 
basket when they left. 

“ You see,” she would say, “ I’m the oldest 
friend you have in this part of the country un- 
less you count the stage driver, and it stands to 
reason I should give you a lift when I can, for I 
well know with everybody stopping to see you, 
that you have a poor chance to work. I’m 
real anxious to go to church too, to hear you 
preach, but, la, Sunday is our busiest day. 
People have time to drive around then and they 
generally end up here. We have no carousing 
though; my man won’t allow it. The ones 
that come on that day mostly care more for their 
eating, than for their drinking; we always al- 
low to have extra cooking on Sunday and that 
keeps me home.” 

‘‘I wish you could persuade some of the 


CHANGES. 


39 


young folks that visit you to drive around to 
the church ; there are a good many empty 
seats I would like to have filled.” 

“ I’ll do my best, sir,” she answered ; “ it is 
new to them now ; you’ll find them coming in 
after a while.” 

Clara having so few intimate friends among 
the women was drawni to the motherly Mrs. 
Jenkins whose acts of kindness had been con- 
stant to them since their arrival. She urged 
the good woman to come and take a meal with 
them, “if only,” she said laughing, “to see what 
good bread I have learned to make, and to ad- 
mire my shelf of pickles and preserves.” 

The landlady promised to come at an early 
day, and when she fulfilled her promise she was 
accompanied by so large a basket' of provisions, 
that Mr. Patterson said good huraoredly, “ I 
see, Mrs. Jenkins, you are not willing to be 
indebted to us for any thing.” 

“ Now you know it isn’t that at all ; but you 
were not well settled here when we had the 
spring berries and for some reason I put up 
more than I can use in a year ; so it is a kind- 
ness to me for somebody to help eat them. 
Then we had an extra baking yesterday ; he 
was looking for some land surveyors but they 
didn’t come, and they sent word they wouldn’t 


40 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

be here till day after to-morrow, and the loaf 
cake and rusks would be stale by that time.” 

“I’ll say no more,” said Mr. Patterson; “I 
can seldom withstand a woman’s arguments.” 

Next to her husband, Mrs. Patterson had no 
greater admirer than Tom Townsend. After a 
long ride they had taken together one day the 
minister pressed Tom to come into the house 
and take tea with them, and after having once 
gained an entrance Tom was no longer shy, but 
counted it one of his greatest privileges to visit 
them. The boy was gifted by nature with a 
good mind, but his opportunities for improving 
it had been of little account. His older brother 
had work to do in the village, and Tom was 
needed at home. Mr. Patterson encouraged 
him to read and study at odd times, lending 
him books for the purpose and assisting him 
when necessary. 

In return for this kindness Tom found time 
to make himself useful to Mrs. Patterson. He 
cut up the kindling wood, brought the mail, 
cleared the paths after the winter’s snow, 
brought in water from the well, and rendered 
himself a helper indeed. He began to have 
aspirations which led him beyond his present 
mode of life. To be able to read all the books 
in Mr. Patterson’s library understandingly 
would be to him, he thought, the highest earthly 


CHANGES. 


41 


good. He wearied of his routine work, hauling 
wood and cutting it, feeding the cattle and hoe- 
ing and digging potatoes. He said to himself, 
it takes no great mind for these things. He 
was becoming conscious as the winter passed, 
that he was capable of improvement and that 
all he wanted was a “chance,” as he called it. 
His father laughed at him, but Tom held 
steadily to the fact that an education he meant 
to have, and in this he was upheld by Mr. Pat- 
terson who promised him all the help in his 
power to give. 

Tom went vigorously to work, beginning at 
the foundation and every spare moment he 
devoted to his books. 

His father in reality was rather proud of his 
son’s ambitious resolves, and when the mother 
remonstrated that the minister was likely to be 
the ruin of him, since all he thought of now was 
getting through his work in the quickest pos- 
sible time, so that he might sit like a stick the 
whole evening holding his books before him. 

“ He had better be at that, than at the tavern 
where so many of the boys go ; and as long as 
Tom does his work all right I’m not going to 
make a fuss about it. I mind me of a brother 
of my father’s who, I have heard say, was just 
such another, and as you know he came to be a 
lawyer and a good one too ; and if Tom wants 


42 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

learning and can help himself to it, I shall not 
hinder him.” 

When the spring communion season came 
around the three who presented themselves to 
be admitted as members of the church were 
Jimmy Hines, Tom Townsend and Job Stetzer. 
Jimmy Hines decided that as he had been rather 
a “ floating communicant ”, to use his own 
words, he felt like beginning anew, and as he 
insisted at the same time on signing the tem- 
perance pledge the minister was glad to receive 
him. 

There were a dozen faithful ones who at all 
times upheld the hands of the minister, and 
endeavored to aid him in temporal concerns. 
Yet as the time passed this gospel laborer could 
but feel that while he sowed the seed much of 
it fell by the way side, or among thorns, and 
failed of the harvest he longed to gather. 

The winters proved long and severe ; the 
roads were often almost impassable. The heat- 
ing of the church was very imperfect and it 
seemed as if all spiritual work among the 
people for months at a time must wait for 
milder weather. The house the Pattersons 
lived in was not very secure, and when one 
morning they awoke to And the snow had 
beaten in at the window and down the chimney, 
the prospect did indeed seem dreary. Mrs. 


CHANGES. 


43 


Patterson caught a severe cold, and they moved 
their sleeping room down-stairs into the guest 
chamber which connecting with the kitchen 
where the fire was kept all day was much more 
comfortable. 

***** 

Seven years have passed away before we look 
in again upon this little home. 

A new inmate has come to reside there, a 
little daughter healthy and fair, which while 
she adds care brings unwonted joy to the pa- 
rents. She is named Helen Germaine Patter- 
son after Clara’s mother, and she has grown so 
strong and well that her father playfully calls 
her his Prairie Rose. 

The mother is not quite so fair and girlish 
as when we first knew her. She has a more 
matronly air, but her brow is serene ; the cares 
and trials she has experienced have not affected 
her spirits; and in her husband’s eyes she is 
more attractive than when he won her as his 
bride. 

The minister has grown more rugged and 
looks a strong and healthy man. His constant 
exposure has seemed to harden him. The 
money from Aunt Price has long ago been 
spent, and while their wants are not many, pro- 
visions being comparatively cheap, there is con- 


44 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


stant need of self-denial. Public sentiment in 
regard to church matters has somewhat im- 
proved in the community, and in pleasant 
weather the little building is often filled with 
worshippers. 

None could complain now of the fine gar- 
ments of minister or wife. Scarcely an article 
of clothing had been purchased by either ; the 
minister’s best coat has grown “ seedy,” and the 
wife’s bonnets and wraps though sufficiently 
fashionable for the locality, would have looked 
old and antiquated if viewed by former friends. 

The money that came to them in small 
amounts had often to be paid out at once for 
values already received. They were a whole 
year paying for the cow which they looked 
upon as a necessity ; but the farmer from whom 
they purchased her agreed to take his money as 
they could pay it. When the crops were good 
the minister shared in the general welfare ; 
when they were poor he shared with the rest, 
and knew how to live on short allowance. 

Tom Townsend was now in college. His 
aim was to be a minister of the gospel, and on 
Mr. Patterson’s recommendation he had been 
taken up by the church society for educating 
young men. Everybody said he was likely to 
do credit to himself and his friends. 

Thus the seasons came and went, bringing 


CHANGES. 


45 


new experiences and need of faith and trust, 
but the minister and his wife never regretted 
their choice of this hard field. They looked 
not back, but ever forward with courage and 
hope. 


CHAPTER IV. 

JERUSHA. 

T he years wore slowly away, bringing to the 
church some seasons of comfort and prom- 
ise, with peace and harmony reigning. But 
there were also intervals of discouragement 
when difficulties confronted pastor and people. 
There were times of sickness and impoverish- 
ment, when promised and much-needed funds 
were kept back because those who were able 
failed to fill the treasury, in consequence of 
which one of God’s faithful ministers and his 
family were left to want even the necessaries 
of life. 

And now there came a crisis in the lives of 
this family when the wife and mother lying 
upon her sick bed seemed slowly drifting away. 
Malaria, no new disease in portions of this 
country, set in, and the physician decided that 
to prolong her life, they must move from their- 
present home, which was in a low and marshy 
locality. There was a house vacant a half a 
mile beyond Job Stetzer’s which was not only 
more commodious, but had an acre more of land 
attached to it. 

( 46 ) 


JERUSHA. 


47 


The death of Aunt Price two months before, 
and the sending in consequence, by her exec- 
utor, of two hundred dollars to Mrs. Patterson, 
relieved the minister of anxiety in regard to 
this new movement. So the house and barn 
were quickly put in repair and members of the 
congregation willingly conveyed the goods from 
the old home to the new. 

The new house was on a slight elevation 
which sloped gently to the road in front, with 
a beautiful grove of walnut trees on the oppo- 
site side of the road. 

Helen, now fifteen, was healthy and large of 
her age. She had been for some time the prin- 
cipal helper in the household, for Mrs. Patter- 
son’s ill health had made her almost a constant 
invalid, and outside help was very difficult to 
obtain except for short periods. 

It was some time after they had become com- 
pletely settled, that Job Stetzer called to tell 
Mr. Patterson of a funeral on the following day, 
and that his presence was desired to conduct 
the services. “ It’s on the Injun trail road, and 
that’s the meanest road in all these diggin’s, up 
and down hill with plenty of rocks. I’ve not 
been that way for a good spell, but I don’t sup- 
pose it has improved any. It’s about seven 
miles off, and as for the place it’s a scrambling 
village of a few houses, but old Mr. Boggs 


48 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


that’s dead was one of the very first settlers 
thirty or forty years ago, and I’ve heard of him 
all my life. How he ever came to squat on 
such a place is past tellin’. There is one girl 
left, not very young, but as her father has been 
bed-ridden two or three years it is not likely 
he’s left any property. I’ll come for you right 
after breakfast to-morrow if you think you can 
go.” 

“ Certainly I will go ; but it is strange I 
have never heard of the family before. I 
would have been glad to visit the old man in 
his sickness.” 

Job considering himself reproached for with- 
holding necessary information, replied, “ It 
would not have done a mite of good; for a long 
time he hasn’t had as much sense as my 
Towser ; just had to be taken in hand like a 
child.” 

The next morning after two hours’ drive, 
they found on arriving at the place a primitive 
grave yard, a small three-cornered lot rudely 
fenced in with an uneven wall of stones, from 
one end of a wood. It was filled with tall 
grass and straggling blackberry vines, a wild 
rose in a corner, and a few daisies and dande- 
lions springing up here and there. Very few 
graves had head stones, and most of the slabs 
were of wood that had once been painted 


JERUSHA. 


49 


white, while a number of graves were so nearly 
level with the earth as to be scarcely notice- 
able. There were two or three men on horse- 
back, and it was a poor looking cart with 
boards thrown across for seats that had con- 
veyed to this inhospitable place the one mourner 
and two or three of her acquaintances. They 
had evidently been waiting some time and at 
Job’s suggestion, Mr. Patterson read from his 
pocket Testament a few verses and immediately 
began a short service, enlarging on the words, 
“And so death passed upon all men for that all 
have sinned,” and dwelling upon the fact that 
the Lord Jesus came to deliver from the second 
death. 

The rude coffin was placed in the earth, the 
men present with their spades filling up the 
grave. After it was over the minister looking 
around, stepped to the wagon and inquired of 
one of the women, “ Is that person,” pointing 
to a woman who stood near the fence leaning 
on her elbow steadily looking at the new made 
grave, “the daughter of the man just buried?” 

“ Yes,” was the reply, “ that’s Jerusha. Poor 
soul, she’s takin’ a last look, and I don’t want 
to hurry her. You see she’s left alone. The 
old man was sick this good while. It was all 
goin’ out, and nothin’ cornin’ in. She has to 
leave the place ; the cow goes to the doctor 
4 


60 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER, 


and exceptin’ the few things in the house she’s 
nothin’ at all.” 

The minister moved toward the object of re- 
mark. She was a woman of about thirty years 
of age, tall and rather gaunt looking, her face 
anxious and woe-begone as if every hope in 
life was blasted. 

The minister kindh^ held out his hand as she 
turned at his approach. 

She took it saying, “ How are you Mr. Pat- 
terson ? I thank you for your trouble in com- 
ing over, but I’ve no money to pay you with.” 

“ I did not come for money, but to offer you 
my sympathy in this bereavement and to ask 
if there was anything I could do for your com- 
fort. I hear that you are left all alone and 
without means for the future. Hearing this it 
has just occurred to me that possibly you 
might not object to coming into my family for 
a while, at least until you can do better. My 
wife is sick with malaria, and my daughter is 
not strong enough to do the work that falls to 
her share. I cannot offer you high wages, but 
I can assure you of a comfortable home.” 

The woman’s face brightened. “ I will be 
glad of a home anywhere. The poor, like me, 
has no choice. It is a long time since I had a 
comfortable home, though I did the very best I 
could for poor father while he lived. Yes, I’m 


JERUSHAc 


61 


willin’ to live with you, you talk like a good 
man. I’m a likely worker, though I say it my- 
self; I’ve done nothin’ else but work since I 
was nine years old, when my mother died. I’ll 
get my few things together, and settle with the 
doctor, and if you come or send a wagon day 
after to-morrow you’ll find me ready.” 

It was good news to his family that Mr. Pat- 
terson carried home that day. His wife, who 
had improved for a few weeks after her re- 
moval, had again succumbed to an attack of 
chills and fever. Much of her time she spent 
in bed and Helen had not only to care for her 
in her father’s absence, but had also to churn 
and bake and attend to the daily work of the 
house. What was worse than all in her father’s 
eyes was the time taken from her lessons. He 
had carefully trained her, every field of study 
she entered yielded rich returns, and her ac- 
quirements in literature and science would have 
astonished many a Miss with superior facilities. 
Greek and Latin she commenced and diligently 
grappled with, showing the same talent for 
languages her father had before her. He was 
the only teacher she had ever known, and they 
found a mutual delight in imparting and re» 
ceiving instruction. 

The report her father gave of the new help 
Helen received with great glee. “ Why papa, 


52 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


there will be no end of the good times we shall 
have together. Morning study and rides, and 
walks in the afternoon, with geology and 
botany thrown in, or, when dear mamma is 
unable, I can go with you to make pastoral 
visits and start my sewing and singing class, 
which you know has been on my mind this 
long time. Useful and pleasant things will 
crowd upon us I am sure.” 

“ You must not expect an accomplished cook 
and housemaid in Jerusha, nor immediate release 
from housework. She has strength and will- 
ingness, I am sure ; but it is quite possible that 
your mother and you will have to teach her 
many things, before she will be able to take 
matters entirely in her own hand.” 

Jerusha arrived with her belongings brought 
in J ob’s wagon ; among them a little pig, 
three pair of chickens, a work stand and a 
side saddle, the latter an heir loom and sacred 
in her eyes. 

Her appearance was rather unpromising, but 
her aptitude for work and tireless energy soon 
won approbation on all sides. Washing, iron- 
ing, baking, churning and house-cleaning were 
performed with dispatch. She digged a large 
space in the garden before breakfast, and had 
half the potatoes planted before Mr. Patterson 
knew it. She rubbed down the horse and 


JERUSHA. 


53 


cleaned out the stable to save the minister the 
trouble of doing it. He expostulated with her 
for doing so much, but her only reply was, “ It’s 
what I came for, and I don’t really find enough 
to do to keep me busy.”j 

To one of her old neighbors who inquired 
how she was getting along, she answered, “ I 
feel after my hard life as if I’d reached the new 
Jerusalem, it’s all so peaceful and quiet here. 
There’s no jawin’ with one another, no mean 
talk or squabblin’; what one says the rest agree 
to, and as for the darter, she’d mind you of a 
robin in the spring flittin’ about singin’ the 
sweetest songs you ever heard.” 

Jerusha was independent and was even spoken 
of by some who had known her in former times 
as a virago of a mild type, but having no prov- 
ocations she was now most amiable. Her regard 
for her minister amounted almost to servility ; 
the slightest insinuation against him was sure 
to bring down upon the offender her marked in- 
dignation expressed in no gentle terms. 

She soon was considered so entirely a member 
of the family that the thought of her ever leav- 
ing them did not enter their minds. She lifted 
the burden that had weighed them down and 
proved a continual blessing. The minister 
found more time for visiting, and for preparation 
for the pulpit. Helen became a most diligent 


64 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


student, and Mrs. Patterson whose constitution 
had been so long tried beyond her strength, un- 
der this competent helper and nurse became less 
of an invalid and began to hope for renewed 
life and vigor. 

Jerusha had practised economy too long not 
to be able to make the most of everything. 
Under her careful management the cow began 
to furnish more milk, the chickens grew and 
multiplied. The garden produced vegetables 
in such abundance that the table in summer was 
supplied almost entirely from that source. The 
planting, hoeing, and weeding, were all done 
by Jerusha who scorned assistance, the thanks 
she got and the pleasure and comfort she gave 
being ample reward to one whose whole life had 
been that of unappreciated drudgery. 

She was devoted to Helen who in her eyes 
was a miracle of wisdom and beauty. Nothing 
was too good for her that she could accomplish, 
whether in procuring some rare flower or plant 
from the prairie or attempting something sur° 
prising in a culinary way. As Mr. Patterson 
insisted on paying her for the pig and chickens 
she had brought with her, she saved the money 
until she had a good opportunity and spent a 
good portion of it in purchasing a canary bird 
and cage, and the pleasure Helen manifested 


JERUSHA. 


55 


on receiving it more than paid her for the sac- 
rifice she made. 

“ Jerusha what can I ever do for you to pay 
you for this beautiful gift. I would rather 
have it than a lum^p of gold as big as the bird. 
We will hang the cage by the sunny kitchen 
window and then it will sing to you as you 
work. The next thing will be to find a name 
for it ; what would you suggest, papa ? ” 

“ Unless Jerusha names it, I think you had 
better choose one yourself.” 

Jerusha had no name to propose. The bird 
she had when a child she called Teddy, and she 
thought Helen could find a better name than 
that. Helen thought so too, and after delib- 
erating a few moments said, “ I believe I will 
decide to call him Sankey after the sweet singer 
papa was reading about, and then when he is 
moulting we might call him Moody''' 

They all laughed at her choice. 

“Did you ever hear the like of her,” said 
Jerusha. “If she did not look so healthy, I 
would really be afraid her mind was getting too 
big for her body.” 

It was a real grief to Mrs. Patterson when 
the landlord and his wife, having accumulated 
some means, decided to leave Cedar Run, to 
move into a larger town where a flourishing 
business had been offered them. 


56 DONALD PATTERSON'S DAUGHTER, 


A few days before they were to leave MrSo 
Jenkins drove to the minister’s house with a 
wagon well laden with all sorts of useful arti- 
cles as well as eatables. 

As usual she began to apologize as soon as 
she entered the house. “ You know my dear 
there are many things we will not want in our 
new home, and I would rather give some of 
them to you than to sell all at auction. These 
milk pans are nearly new and such a handy 
shape, and I have more than I want for we’ll 
keep but one cow, and these stone jars I think 
are better than earthen, though they are heavy 
to move ; ” and so the good soul went on striv- 
ing to make it appear that by accepting her 
gifts they were conferring a favor. 

The man who succeeded them at Cedar Run 
was not as scrupulous in keeping an orderly 
house as Mr. Jenkins had been. His business 
was to make money, and little he cared how 
many families were made miserable so that his 
gains were plentiful. 

This made Mr. Patterson anxious, for more 
than one who had renounced liquor would be 
in danger of falling again into its toils. 


CHAPTER V. 


THE EDGARS. 

of the most useful members of the 
” church at Cedar Run was Mr. Edgar, 
whose house was next beyond Job Stetzer’s. 
He owned the best farm in the neighborhood, 
and the twenty years’ work he had put upon it 
spoke well for his industry and skill. 

The family consisted of the farmer and his 
wife, two stalwart sons, and a daughter only a 
year older than Helen. The girl became her 
chief friend and companion. The two sonstir^ 
ing of their hum-drum life, after a great deal of 
urging, had been permitted to go further west 
in search of “ fresh fields and pastures new,” 
with the understanding that if they could very 
much better their condition, their father might 
be induced to join them if he could sell his 
present farm to advantage. 

Annie Edgar was a buxom country girl who 
cared far more for making rare cakes, pies and 
custards, and piecing intricate patchwork, than 
she did for the mysteries of learning and 
science. Her constant wonder was, why Helen 

( 57 ) 


S8 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


should waste so much time over books and 
slight the occupations which to her were so 
much more congenial. The offer which Mr. 
Patterson had generously made to instruct her 
with his own daughter was accepted for a time, 
but her tastes did not run that way, and one 
excuse after another was rendered until finally 
she gave up altogether coming for study or rec- 
itations. 

“ You know, Helen,” she said to her one day 
apologetically, “ I never intend to be a school 
teacher, or a lecturer, or woman’s rights, or a 
minister’s wife. I know enough of reading, 
writing, and ciphering ‘ for all intents and por- 
poises’, to quote Job Stetzer, so what do I care 
for the ologies and dead languages ? Father 
says one tongue is enough for any woman. I 
shall likely marry a farmer and settle down.” 

“ Marry a farmer ! ” interrupted Helen, 
“why surely Annie, you don’t think about get- 
ting married ? ” and at the thought her laugh 
rang out most merrily. Annie’s face grew some- 
what red though she bravely stood her ground. 
“ Indeed, then I do ; don’t all girls get married, 
except a few old maids ? Mother was only 
seventeen when she married father, not two 
years older than I am now, and she had ready 
before she ever saw liim a half dozen quilts, 
pieced and quilted, with lots of sheets and pil- 


THE EDGARS, 


69 


low slips, and at least a dozen pairs of yarn and 
cotton stockings knit. I have the same blue 
chest that she had, and I keep my things in it, 
and it is nearly half full now. You shall see 
them some time. I’m piecing a rising- sun 
quilt of yellow and green calico ; you shall have 
the pattern if you like.” 

“ Thank you ever so much,” said Helen. “ I 
have no time for it now, but one thing I do 
know — ” in a most decided tone — “ it would 
make me feel very uncomfortable indeed if I 
thought I had to be married in three or four 
years. The very worst thing that could happen 
to me would be to leave my father and mother 
and go off to live with a strange man. I feel 
quite sure that I shall never want to be mar- 
ried.” 

Annie laughed heartily, though she gave a 
pitying look at the innocent face as she said, 
“ you’ll be likely to change your views on that 
subject; besides where would you have been, if 
your mother had thought as you do ? ” 

This enigma suspended further remarks from 
Helen, who having obtained the fresh yeast she 
came to borrow, returned home gravely ponder- 
ing the new theories advanced by her friend. 

Accounts of their travels came from the Ed- 
gar boys. 

A fine property of a thousand acres, more 


60 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


than one fourth of it improved, had been offered 
them. It was good for tilling and parts of it 
admirably adapted for stock raising, and they 
strongly urged their father to come out with 
the family and take possession. Letters passed 
back and forth. The charms of the new coun- 
try were so ardently described that the old peo- 
ple finally consented to emigrate. 

Annie was not so enthusiastic as the rest. 
“It means, I know,” thought she, “hard work, 
and a lonely life. I do wish the boys had been 
content to stay there if they wished, and had 
let us alone.” 

“ How soon will you go ? ” asked Helen, who 
was made a confidant of Annie’s thoughts on 
the subject. 

“ As soon as brother Will comes to help us 
pack up; this week or next we shall look for 
him, and then we must go as soon as possible. 
Father wants to get the spring planting in the 
new place over before it is too late.” 

Helen was truly sorry to lose her friend. 
Annie was strong and helpful and thoroughly 
kind-hearted, and often when Helen, on ac- 
count of her mother’s ill health, had been un- 
able to accomplish all the necessary work, she 
had rendered assistance in many effective ways. 
And then they had been together in church and 
Sabbath-school work. They united with the 


THE EDGAES. 


61 


church at the same time, and Helen grieved in 
anticipation of coming loneliness. 

She was looking over the fence at the foot of 
the garden just before evening to see if a de- 
linquent chicken was in sight. Spring had 
opened in all its beauty. The leaves were com- 
ing out in their bright foliage, and the borders 
of grass along the roadside were green. The 
landscape stretched far before her on one side 
until it ended in the dusky blue of the distant 
hills. On the other was the deep green of the 
woods. 

“ Helen ! ” called some one. 

She started as she heard her name. It 
seemed to come from the ground beneath her 
feet. Looking down she saw a man lying pros- 
trate among the low bushes and weeds which 
grew on the opposite side of the fence. She 
stepped back with alarm. 

“ Please do not go away. I am Will Edgar, 
and I have something to say to you. Look 
off toward the woods as you did a few mo- 
ments ago, while I tell you, for my life is in 
danger.” 

His communication was this : 

Having left Kansas he traveled by means of 
teams and stages some distance on the journey, 
and finally when fifty miles from home bought 
a horse from a man who had two or three to' 


62 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

sell. It was a good animal, and having bought 
it at a bargain he felt well satisfied and was 
making rapid progress, when coming near a 
small village he found himself surrounded, and 
a man coming up and taking hold of his bridle 
commanded him to dismount and surrender. 
He did not know what it meant, and striking 
the man’s hand with his whip he compelled him 
to let go, and urging the horse he set off on a 
gallop. He had not gone more than two miles 
when he heard sounds of coming horsemen, and 
he realized that his pursuers were gaining on 
him. 

After all, he thought, what had he done 
that he should fiy like a hunted deer ? Why 
not stop and see what they wanted? As he 
was not guilty of any breach of the law, his own 
words ought to satisfy them ; so he halted, 
turned his horse’s head and waited for them to 
approach. 

His pursuers stopped when they saw him, 
and evidently thought he had a revolver to dis- 
charge; but he threw up his hands to show 
they were empty and they again almost sur- 
rounded him.” 

“ Friends,” said he, “ what is your business 
with me? I conclude from your actions you 
want me for something.” 

“ Get off that horse I You have stolen him, 


THE EDGARS. 


63 


and we’ll tell you we mean to string you up in 
three minutes’ time.” 

Their angry faces at once assured him of his 
danger. He had been riding a stolen horse and 
they very naturally suspected him of being the 
the thief. They would not believe his story, 
and he could not prove his innocence. 

With one cut of his whip he again wheeled 
suddenly around, and again the animal as if 
conscious of the need of special exertion flew 
onward, followed by the angry crowd. Will 
knew he cpuld not escape on horseback and 
taking advantage of a bend in the road he 
slipped from the horse, lashed him with the 
whip which sent him flying onward. Trust- 
ing to the darkening shadows to conceal his 
escape, he rolled down into a gully which was 
near the road, and lay there while his would-be 
captors went thundering by on their horses in- 
tent on murder. 

This happened three nights ago. Twice they 
came near him as he lay concealed. They 
found the horse he had been riding, but as a 
great many horses had lately been stolen they 
determined to make an example of the flrst 
thief they might catch. 

“ I dare not go home,” said Will, “ for fear 
some one of the men might have recognized 
me, and I have been lying here for some time 


64 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


hoping to see some one. I called to Jerusha as 
she passed out of the gate, but she did not hear 
me. Now do you think you can hide me for a 
time ? ” 

Helen thought a moment. “ There is the low 
broad shelf in the mow which is now covered 
with hay. If you can get under that I know 
there is a big knot hole that would give you 
air. Father could help you better than I.” 

“ No, you must not speak to anybody. Those 
men will be through here, I haven’t a doubt, 
and if nothing is known, their questions will 
not hurt me. Your father if he was told 
couldn’t but tell the truth to them if he was 
asked.” 

Helen’s good sense told her this would be the 
case. “I will try to save you, Will,” she said; 
“ keep where you are till I bring you something 
to eat, for you must be very hungry.” 

She went into the kitchen. Jerusha had for- 
tunately gone on an errand to one of the neigh- 
bors. Helen heated some milk, and spreading 
some bread handed it through the fence to the 
poor fellow, who, weak and almost famished, 
was lying there. 

Then she hurried back to the kitchen to pack 
a basket of eatables to hide in the hay mow for 
Will. She had just time to do it when Jerusha 
appeared as she was leaving the barn. 


THE EDGARS. 


65 


No use in hunting for eggs, honey ; I’ve set 
most of the hens, and there isn’t a single nest 
in the mow. It’s late to look for them any- 
how ; morning is the best time.” 

Helen was so agitated she could not reply, 
but followed Jerusha into the house, striving to 
act in her ordinary manner so that her secret 
would not be suspected. 

Will was to come around to the side of the 
barn when it grew dark, and here Helen met 
him and directed him to his hiding-place. 

“ You need not look after me to-morrow,” he 
said to her ; “ I will lie close and you may have 
visitors.” 

True enough the next morning just after 
family worship there was a loud knock upon 
the door made by the butt end of a whip. 

A man stood there holding his horse, and 
there were two others mounted outside the 
gate. 

“ I came to inquire if you have seen a young 
man in a brown suit pass. We caught him 
horse stealing and have traced him to this 
neighborhood.” 

The minister answered courteously. He had 
seen no one pass answering to their description, 
and no one had called at the house, as the fam- 
ily could testify. 

Helen trembled for fear she ^hpuld be asked 


5 


66 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

individually. As the door closed, her father 
caught a glimpse of her white face. “Why, 
daughter, are you frightened? There is no 
need to be agitated ; the men are gone.” 

“Is there any danger of their returning?” 
she asked. 

“No; they have gone up the road; they are 
not likely to return here.” 

“ Then, father, I must tell you. Poor Will 
Edgar is lying up in the mow.” And she told 
him her story. 

Her father kissed her. “ You are a brave 
little girl. Of course we must save Will. Do 
not speak of this to any one else, and I will 
attend to it.” 

That night Will was conveyed to his home, 
where he remained in seclusion for a few days. 
At the end of that time the true thief was 
caught and placed in jail and when pressed 
with questioning, confessed that he had sold the 
horse to the young man they described, and 
that he was entirely guiltless. Then Will ap- 
peared, and none except the few ever knew 
how nearly he came to losing his life. As for 
Helen, she was looked upon as a real heroine 
by the Edgars, and when Will came over to say 
good-bye he brought with him a riding horse as 
a gift for Helen, to remind her of the life she 
had saved. 


THE EDGAES. 


67 


A bountiful supply of oats was also sent, and 
Romeo, as she christened him, proved a source 
of constant enjoyment, for she could now ac- 
company her father on horseback on many of 
his rides and in visiting the members of his 
congregation, Jerusha at once produced her 
saddle. She would take no denial. “I never 
knowed why I kept it, but it was doin’ no good 
layin’ under my bed ; so, honey, if you’ll take 
it and use it I’ll really feel obleeged.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


MISS PKISSY AND MISS DEBBY. 

T he Indian summer soon brought beautiful 
November days. Helen hailed them with 
delight, coming as they did after two weeks of 
stormy weather, and one bright morning found 
father and daughter starting out to make visits 
on horseback. Their way led up the Indian 
trail road along which, within a distance of five 
miles lived six or seven families claimed by Mr. 
Patterson as members of his flock, although 
through poverty or indiflFerence many of them 
were careless in attending church. Yet, as is 
the case in congregations of greater promi- 
nence, the minister was expected to do his 
whole duty in visiting them, and any apparent 
neglect on his part was sure to be brought to 
his notice at the first opportunity. 

After mounting a hill they came to a place 
where, a little retired from the road, was 
a small log house nearly covered with vines, 
with pretty shrubbery in front. Here dwelt 
two maiden sisters. Miss Prissy and Miss Debby 
Sharp, who resembled each other so closely that 
( 68 ) 


MISS PRISSY AND MISS DERBY. 


69 


Jerusha always spoke of them as “the two 
twins.” 

Miss Debby was really older than her sister 
by two years, but Miss Prissy, besides being an 
inch taller, was a much more independent per- 
son and more of a business character. They 
were always spoken of as Prissy and Debby 
Sharp, and it was generally conceded that while 
Prissy was the smarter of the two, Debby was 
the more amiable. This had been their home 
for many years, and after the death of their 
parents they refused to sell out and move to 
some place where they might have nearer 
neighbors. Spinning yarn and knitting stock- 
ings, making butter and raising poultry, was 
their main employment, and they lived plainly, 
for their wants were few. 

It had been previously arranged that Helen 
should remain here while her father made other 
visits up the road, and would call for her on 
his return. 

“ La ! now my dear, sister and I were talking 
of you only this morning,” said Miss Prissy, 
who came to the door. “ It does seem a power- 
ful long time since you were here last.” 

Helen fastened her horse, and came in to 
receive a second welcome from Miss Debby, who 
brought out the little rocking chair with its 
bright patch-work cushion for her to sit in. 


70 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

“ Take off your hat and riding skirt my dear ; 
the parson can not get back for two hours at 
least. Martha Prior will keep him an hour if 
she can, and if he gets away her voice will fol- 
low him fifty yards or more after he leaves the 
house. She beats any human being I ever 
heard tell of for talking. Her tongue is ‘ aper- 
iently ’ loose at both ends, and he’ll not get 
away till he hears what has happened to herself 
and family, the cow with its last calf, the pigs 
and chickens, the eggs she has saved, and the 
butter she has made.” 

“ You are hard on the poor woman,” said the 
more temperate Debby. “ There are so few 
she has to talk to, that it is a kind of letting off 
steam to be able to relieve her mind once in a 
while.” 

“ How is it with you ? ” asked Helen ; “ I 
think you must be very lonely here.” 

“ Lonely ? Why not at all ; the days pass 
wonderfully quick. Sometimes in winter, if 
the snow is deep, we feel a little shut in from 
the outside world, but we always prepare for 
that. We have plenty of provision laid up for 
the winter, the well is handy to the back door, 
and we read the papers in the afternoon when 
our work is done, or one of us reads while the 
other knits or sews.” 


MISS PRISSY AND MISS DERBY. 


71 


“How do you manage to get your papers 
from the post-office in stormy weather ? ” 

“ O ! we get a batch from our brother in 
Cincinnati once in a while, and we save them 
up for such times. The news is never too stale 
for us even if it has happened two or three 
months before we read of it. 

“ It does seem a little odd sometimes to read of 
the weather being very warm, when with us it 
is very cold; but we don’t mind that. Oh no, 
we don’t get lonely here. We did once though 
when we went to Cincinnati. Brother Josiah 
couldn’t rest till he got us there, so three years 
ago he sent us money and would take no ex- 
cuse. We had the dress maker down from 
Cedar Run three whole days. We made the 
skirts of our dresses before she came and she 
fixed us up, we thought, right smart, trimmed 
up our bonnets and tidied us up generally. 
But my ! When we got there we looked as 
different from the people we saw as day from 
night. But they did not seem to care, neither 
did we. Josiah has a nice family; lives in a 
brick house three stories high, and keeps a girl 
to do his cooking, though there are only three 
in family besides himself, his wife and two 
children. Debby and I had knit a pair of 
woolen stockings for each one of them, but we 
never even offered them. Why, the whole 


72 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

winter through they all wore cotton stockings, 
and this in a Christian country too. Josiah 
wasn’t brought up that way, but he’s come to it 
now, and when I spoke to him about it he ad- 
vised me to take them back with me and give 
them to somebody here ; and we did as he said. 

“ They treated us well and toted us about 
wherever there was any thing to see, till our 
eyes fairly ached from the looking. We staid 
there till spring, and I began to feel dreadful 
homesick, though I said nothing to nobody. 
One morning I watched Debby standing at the 
window so still I knew she wasn’t seeing 
nothing. 

“ ‘ Debby,’ says I, ‘ what are you thinking of? ’ 

“ ‘ O Prissy,’ says she, ‘ I’m thinking of the 
shadows of the old trees moving in the sun- 
light, and I wish I was there to see them, and 
I don’t believe I will ever get my thirst quenched 
till I get a drink from the old well ; this city 
water doesn’t agree with me.’ 

“ ‘ Debby,’ says I, ‘ we’ll go to-morrow. 
That’s home, and this isn’t.’ So back we came 
and it will be a while before we venture away 
again. Why the neighbors that live four miles 
away from us here are more sociable than 
Josiah’s folks that live next door; they have 
neither of them been inside each other’s houses.” 

Helen listened with interest. “ But I should 


MISS PRISSY AND MISS DEBBy. 


73 


think you would like to have a kitten or dog or 
some little thing to run about jmur house and 
make it lively.” 

This remark seemed to startle the sisters, and 
“ Where is she ? ” broke from their lips at the 
same time. 

Prissy arose and left the room, and Debby 
answered the surprised look she saw on Helen’s 
face, by saying, “We have our brother Wil- 
liam’s little girl with us this winter; she has 
been with us these three weeks, but such a 
time as we are having with her. She is for 
racing about out of doors and when we bring 
her in and set her a task, she cries to go home. 
We want to do our duty by the child, and 
though we make her study an hour a day at 
the commandments, she has only got as far as 
the third. It is not at all likely she will get 
through them by spring unless she mends her 
ways. Prissy set her to shelling butter beans 
in the kitchen an hour ago, but we had totally 
forgotten about her and I reckon Prissy will 
have to scour around a while before she finds 
her.” 

Helen’s curiosity was aroused concerning the 
new-comer, and she was rewarded after a while 
by Miss Prissy bringing in the truant whom she 
held tightly by the arm. She was a girl of 
twelve years, who with eyes bent upon the 


74 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

floor seemed quite indifferent as Miss Prissy in 
no gentle tones rehearsed her failings. 

“ And where do you think I found her ? Sit- 
ting on the ground by the pig sty with one of 
the little pigs actually wrapped up in her 
apron, and not more than half a pint of beans 
shelled.” 

Helen went to the child and placing her 
hand under her chin raised her face, and stoop- 
ing down kissed her cheek. 

The eyes were quickly raised, and in an in= 
stant two little arms were thrown around her 
neck in a tight squeeze, and she burst into 
such a fit of sobbing that Helen’s heart 
yearned over her. 

“ You must not cry when I have come to see 
you. And so you love little pigs ? I think they 
are real cunning, too. At my home I have a 
dog and cat. Jack and Jill I call them. Jill 
has three lovely kittens, and when you come to 
see me you shall choose one of them for your 
own.” 

“ They won’t let me keep it ; they won’t let 
me have anything ! ” turning sullenly toward 
her aunts. 

“We can’t, either of us, abide cats,” said 
Miss Prissy, with a stiff manner ; “ we have no 
mice and what do we need of cats? A good 


MISS PRISSY AND MISS DERBY. 


75 


trap is worth a dozen of them, and needs no 
feeding either, and brings no fleas.” 

“ But we used to play with cats when we 
were little. Don’t you remember, Prissy, the 
kitten I called Snow ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed,” laughed her sister, “ and how 
you went down the well in the bucket* after it.” 

“ Please tell us about it,” said Helen, draw- 
ing little Madge close to her side, the child re- 
sponding with a loving glance. She is just 
starving for something to love, thought Helen. 

“You tell it. Prissy,” said Debby; and 
Prissy began : 

“We lived in Ohio when we were young, 
but then it was a good bit wilder country than 
this is now. There was a pretty good batch of 
us children and we all had to work, the boys 
about the farm, and we girls with the younger 
children and helping mother about the house. 
There was no outside help to be had, so the 
work was divided among us. There was no 
church or Sunday-school near us, or day school 
either, but father and mother were pious peo- 
ple, and there was not one of us that did not 
know the commandments and creed from be- 
ginning to the end when we were twelve years 
old,” with a shake of the head toward Madge. 
“ In winter especially we had lessons right after 
supper ; so we learned reading, writing and 


76 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


arithmetic, and I may say,” with a satisfied 
smile, “ we have never felt the need of more 
learning than we got then. However, we en- 
joyed ourselves with one another. The boys 
had a dog they called Bowser, and father 
brought Debby a little white cat one day when 
he came from the mill. Debby had been sick, 
and he thought it would please her. 

“ She called it Snow, and it used to run after 
her most of the time. A family by the name 
of Stebbins were our next neighbors, and Joe 
Stebbins was as bad a boy as you could find.” 

“ May be not so bad. Prissy, but he was very 
fond of teasing,” interrupted Debby, mildly. 

‘‘ I call him bad,” continued her sister. 
“ Satan found mischief for his idle hands every 
minute of the day. Snow saw a rabbit or 
something that took her out in the road, and 
while Debby was calling her, Joe Stebbins came 
along and picked up the kitten. First he made 
believe to carry her off, and then when Debby 
told him she would tell her father he threw the 
cat with all his might into the yard, and down 
she fell into the well. It was boarded up on 
the sides and had a windlass which turned and 
let the bucket up and down. Josiah and I had 
been in the barn after eggs, and when we came 
out, there stood Debby leaning over the top of 
the well and crying with all her might. 


MISS PEISSY AND MISS DEBBY. 77 

“Joe let the bucket down, but though the 
kitten mewed it did not get into it. Then 
Debby proposed that she should get into the 
bucket and as the kitten seemed to be swim- 
ming about on the top of the water she could 
easily put out her hand and get it, and Joe and 
I could pull them both up. At first we refused, 
but she coaxed so hard promising to sit very 
still. So Joe brought the bucket up to the 
corner where it rested when it was full and we 
helped her in. When she reached the water 
she was to call, ‘ Stop ’ and when she had got the 
cat she was to say, ‘Ready.’ We were both 
strong for our years, but it was just as much as 
brother and I could do to keep the bucket from 
going down too fast, and when she cried ‘ stop ’ 
it was just as much as we could do to keep the 
windlass from turning. But when she cried out 
‘ Ready ’ we found we had more than we could 
do. We held on though, but glad enough we 
were to see father come into the yard. When he 
was told that Debby was in the bucket down 
the well he was dreadfully scared. 

“ ‘ Sit very still, little daughter,’ he called 
down to her, ‘ and I will draw you up.’ 

“Very carefully and slowly the rope wound 
around the windlass until again the bucket was 
brought to its landing place, and out of it was 
lifted Debby and her half drowned kitten. 


78 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

Father was so glad to have her safe again that 
he did not punish us, though he said if Joe and 
I had lost hold of the handle, she might have 
been dashed against the walls of the well, or 
have been drowned before help could come to 
her. 

“ The very next day that bad boy who had 
been so near causing the accident to Deb by, 
seeing us out in the yard, stood by the fence 
and sang, 

* Ding dong bell 
Pussy’s in the well, 

Who put her in ? 

Naughty Joe Stehy 
Who pulled her out? 

Good little De&.’ ” 

Helen smiled, and little Madge laughed out, 
but Miss Prissy saw nothing to laugh at; “and 
what do you think Debby did when she heard 
it? Why walked to the fence and handed him 
a big piece of ginger cake, and he took it.” 

Miss Debby blushed a little. “ Well sister, 
it had a good effect any way, for he never teased 
us afterward.” 

“ I have heard before of killing an enemy 
with kindness,” said Helen. “ Did he grow up 
to be a bad man? ” 

“ No indeed ! ” said Miss Prissy ; “ and that 
is the strange part of it. He actually came to 


MISS PRISSY AND MISS DERBY. 


79 


be a preacher, and he has a church. Josiah 
heard him preach.” 

Helen had been revolving something in her 
mind, and now made it known. It was that 
Madge be permitted to go home with her and 
spend the night ; “ and please. Miss Prissy, let 
her bring back the kitten with her. I’ll answer 
for its good behavior.” 

Madge’s eyes were dancing with expectation. 
“ Please do,” she said, “ and I’ll try to be good, 
real good.” 

“ I think we might,” said Debby, “ we can 
send it away if it proves troublesome ; ” and 
with this proviso Prissy relented. 

“ Tell your mother to have her quilt ready, 
and we will come over in the afternoon and 
help her out with it, and we can bring Madge 
back in the evening.” 

Madge rode home on the horse in front of 
Mr. Patterson. She seemed so sweet and win- 
ning that they all wondered why she had not 
won her way to the hearts of her aunts. 

Helen felt it her duty to have a confidential 
talk with Madge as they were preparing for 
bed. 

“You see, little Madge, that your aunties are 
growing old and you can give a great deal of 
help and comfort to them if you try.” 

“ Yes,” assented Madge, “ but they bother me 


80 DONALD PATTERSON'S DAUGHTER. 

SO. If I am out of the house they want me in 
to do something. If I am in, they send me out 
to feed the chickens or to pick up chips. If I 
am up-stairs they call me down, and if I am 
down they send me up ; they never let me be 
where I am.” 

Helen laughed outright at this lucid explana- 
tion. 

“ It may sound funny to you, but it isn’t a bit 
funny to me.” 

“ You must remember, Madge, that if you did 
not do these errands, your aunts would have 
them to do, and a little girl should always try 
to help older people.” 

Madge willingly promised to try to do better, 
and when her aunts arrived the next day she 
gave them a joyful greeting with her kitten in 
her arms. 

“I call it Snow, Aunt Debby ; I thought 
maybe you would like it better if I named it 
after your old cat.” 

“ It seems like an uncommonly nice kitten,” 
said her aunt, stroking its fur. 

It is needless to say that the cat was allowed 
to remain with its mistress, and so much did 
Madge improve in the eyes of her aunts that 
Miss Prissy remarked to her sister one day, “ I 
reckon Debby, we were rather too hard on 
Madge at first, seeing she is only a child.” 


CHAPTER VII. 


NEW FRIENDS. 

“P OMEO and his mistress came cantering 
around the house prepared to join Mr. 
Patterson in his ride up the Indian Trail road. 
The trees were gorgeous in their autumnal 
dress. Their brilliant colorings, the mild and 
balmy air, the soft haze of the Indian summer, 
all contributed to throw a charm over the land- 
scape. The woods far and near were glorious 
in the sunshine. The bright red of the oaks 
mingled with the yellow and gold of the chest- 
nut trees, the scarlet of the sumach, and the 
delicate green of the aspen and darker rich 
green of the pines. And even those trees 
which had suddenly turned into a dull homely 
brown, only added to the beauty of the scene 
by their contrast. 

The father and daughter were slowly riding 
along. 

“ A penny for your thoughts,” said Mr. Pat- 
terson noticing Helen’s absorbed look. 

“ I was thinking, father, how very wonderful 
is all this mass of color, with every shade 

( 81 ) 


6 


82 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


and hue combined so beautifully. If I were an 
artist I think I would paint my landscapes in 
the autumn, then I could bring in these beauti- 
ful tints.” 

“ It is rather a singular fact,” he replied, that 
few landscape painters have made a specialty 
of autumnal landscapes when clad in their most 
vivid coloring. One reason I have heard given 
for it is this, ‘ that the old masters never having 
seen such coloring in nature, never attempted 
to produce it,’ and a critic has said, that ‘ even 
in our own land many think an artist who 
paints a scene like this of autumn in its most 
brilliant hues, is trying to impose on our nat- 
ural senses, and he would scarcely dare to 
paint our skies and sunsets with the depth of 
coloring that we often see.* And yet nature 
makes no mistakes. I remember in the letter 
of an English lady there was something like 
this : ‘ I think if your autumns were as gay as 
you represent them, such a variety of colors 
thrown together would shock a refined taste, 
and make you long for our brown forests, or the 
time when green tints would again predomi- 
nate.’ But we can excuse her, for she has never 
seen them.” 

“ You know father the plaid dress that came 
to me in the missionary box two or three years 
ago. How well it fitted me, and how ugly I 


NEW FRIENDS. 


83 


thought it! Yellow, purple, green, brown and 
red, the very colors we see before us, and yet 
how different the effect ! Oh, how I did dis- 
like to wear it the first time, but when I put my 
hand in the pocket and drew out, with the pink 
bordered handkerchief, that letter from the 
broken-hearted mother who sent it, saying, 
‘ that her little daughter just my age, and who 
was very fond of bright colors, had chosen it 
herself, and that before she had ever worn it, 
she was taken to heaven to wear the white robe 
of an angel,’ and she said, ‘ the mother’s 
prayers would follow the dress and the wearer.’ 
That letter seemed to consecrate it, and I never 
minded the colors so much after that, though 
you did call it my ‘ Joseph’s coat.’ I have it 
now in this roll before me, made over and short- 
ened. It is good strong material and I am sure 
little Dolly Smith can have a good wear of it. 
Poor child I On account of not having a fit 
dress she has not been in Sunday-school for 
three weeks. And, oh father ; if you could see 
the other suit I have, one that Jerusha has 
manufactured out of one of her old skirts for 
little Johnny Smith, you would laugh as mother 
and I did. 

“ Mother took them in her hands and held 
them up hind side before without knowing that 
she did so. She looked at them with a wonder- 


84 : DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

ing gaze, desiring to say something truthful 
about them, and yet enough to satisfy Jerusha 
who stood there evidently expecting praise for 
her efforts. It was so funny ; but when mother 
said ‘Haven’t you made a mistake and placed 
the pocket behind, Jerusha?’ 

“ I laughed out which started mother’s risi- 
bles, and she too laughed till the tears were in 
her eyes. 

“ Jerusha’s remark that ‘ she didn’t see noth- 
in’ to laugh at,’ did not tend to sober me. 

“ The pockets are all right, you’re holding the 
clothes toward you hind side before ; don’t you 
see the tail?” and she pointed to a little flap 
with a bright button on the end of it, which 
she had sewed on to imitate a coat tail. We 
had to laugh more at this, but mother found 
voice enough to say, ‘ Jerusha, you must excuse 
us ; you must remember that we are none of us 
used to handling boys’ clothes. You do deserve 
great credit for what you have done, and 
Johnny has great reason to thank you.’ 

“Jerusha was mollified, and said, ‘they’ll 
cover his skin and bones anyway, and look bet- 
ter than the old tucked-up dress of his sister’s 
he had on when I last saw him.’ 

“ ‘ I know he will look just like my pet bantam 
when he puts the suit on ; and I sincerely hope 
he will not sit near me next Sunday, or I will 


NEW FKIENDS. 


86 


be in danger of disgracing myself by laughing 
when I look at him.” 

“You must not discourage Jerusha from 
further efforts. Her former life was calculated 
to make her selfish and narrow. Every thing 
she did was for her own pleasure, and turned to 
her own account, and now that she is learn- 
ing the blessedness of giving, and endeavoring 
to supply the wants of others even by denying 
herself, she needs encouragement.” 

“ How you always see the better side of 
things, father ; and how ashamed I am to think 
I may have hurt the poor soul’s feelings. I 
know she had quite a struggle before she de- 
cided to give away her skirt. I will make it 
up to her when I go home, and tell her I do 
appreciate what she has done. I even think 
I might see Johnny dressed in his suit and keep 
a grave face. I will get him to try it on to- 
night and that will take the edge from the 
affair so it will not be quite so startling.” 

The visit to the Smith family was quite op- 
portune. The mother was found nursing a 
very sick child, the two other children playing 
outside in the dirt, ^nd the father in a drunken 
sleep upon the bed. 

Mr. Patterson had dipped into medical books 
sufficiently to know in regard to ordinary 
cases, and in fact in his visits to the poor he 


86 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


usually carried a small case of medicines with 
him, and on this account his advice was often 
wanted. Physicians lived far away, and the 
money being a spare article with most of the 
people, they rarely sent for one except in ex- 
treme ca§es. They usually depended upon 
simple remedies, the recipes of which were 
handed about from one to the other, and con- 
cocted principally from the roots and herbs 
found in their own gardens and forests. 

The baby twitched and moaned upon its 
mother’s lap. Mr. Patterson watched it a few 
moments and then took it in his arms directing 
the mother to heat some water in which to 
bathe it. The warm water acted like a charm ; 
the little limbs straightened out, and the baby 
opened its eyes and looked about. Finding 
that it was teething, Mr. Patterson with a sharp 
penknife lanced its gums which gave instant re- 
lief, and in a short time the child was sweetly 
sleeping in its rude cradle. 

The mother thanked them again and again 
for coming, and gladly received the garments 
they had brought. 

She hadfelt exceedingly depressed that morn- 
ing ; it seemed too as if all friends had forsaken 
her. Her husband, after a reformation of 
three years, had been tempted again and he had 
fallen ; and though he would wake up repent- 


NEW FRIENDS. 


87 


ant, she could not feel sure that he would not 
yield when again solicited to drink. 

The comforting words of the minister 
cheered her heart, and led her to cast more and 
more her care on the loving Father whose ear 
is ever open to the cry of his children. 

A little further up the road the riders came to 
a standstill. On a level spot quite near a run- 
ning stream an emigrant family were encamp- 
ing. 

A gypsy kettle suspended over some burn- 
ing embers sent forth steam, as a woman raised 
the lid, and stirred the contents ; the baby she 
had placed upon the ground upon a horse 
blanket was screaming at the top of its lungs, a 
man near by was cutting wood but ceased as the 
two approached on their horses. 

“Western bound, I suppose,” said the minis- 
ter accosting the man. 

“ Yes,” he replied ; “ like every one else in 
this world we are trying to better our fortunes. 
We seemed to be rather losing than gaining 
in Ohio where we lived. We are on our way 
farther west where I have a brother-in-law 
who has been urging our coming. I have be- 
sides this little girl two boys of fourteen and 
sixteen,” he said in reply to a question from 
Mr. Patterson. “ They have gone to Cedar 
Run for groceries. It is principally for their 


88 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

sakes I am making the change. If they grow up 
with the country they may in time come to 
something.” 

“Do not you find this way of traveling some- 
what tiresome ? ” 

“ Yes, but it is so much cheaper than any other 
way that we have made up our minds to abide 
by the hard part of it. We have come over four 
hundred miles and not spent more than five dol- 
lars since we started. Of course we brought 
a good supply of provision with us with fod- 
der for the horses. The boys have a horse be- 
tween them besides the two we drive to the 
wagon. The cow we drive before us. We 
brought her that we might have the benefit of 
her milk on our way.” 

While her father was talking, Helen had dis- 
mounted, and fastening her horse to a tree had 
taken up the crying child. The little one was 
very willing to be noticed and fondled. She 
had bright black eyes and a merry laugh, and 
Helen who was very fond of children caressed 
her to her heart’s content. 

“ What a dear, good baby she is! ” 

“ She knows when slie has a good nurse,” re- 
plied the mother. “ You must have little ones 
at home, miss.” 

“No, indeed; I only wish we had. T am the 
oldest and youngest in my home. I love little 


NEW FRIENDS. 


89 


babies dearly and always nurse them when I 
have the chance, but I have not yet learned 
this baby’s name.” 

“We call her ‘ baby ’ still, although it is cer- 
tainly time that she had a better one. What is 
your name, miss ? ” with an admiring glance at 
the bright, intelligent face before her. 

“ Helen Patterson.” 

“ That is a pretty name indeed ; I think if 
you don’t mind I would like to call her Helen 
Patterson Stevens.” 

“I would like it very much,” said Helen, 
hugging the baby closer to her. “ I have never 
had a namesake.” 

Mr. Stevens smiled at her earnestness, and 
was quite willing to adopt the name, saying, 
“ I hope she will grow up as good-looking a girl 
as her namesake and will do you credit.” 

Finding they had been church members in 
the place they came from, Mr. Patterson urged 
them, when they made a settlement, to prove 
loyal to their Heavenly Master, as it was, alas, 
too common a thing for professing Christians 
moving to new settlements to lay aside the re- 
straints of a religious life and follow the example 
of many around them. “ If you have no church 
near you, have a church in the house for your 
own family and any who will join you, and the 


90 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTER. 

Lord will befriend you and make you a bless- 
ing to your neighborhood.” 

Mr. Stevens thanked Mr. Patterson for his 
friendly remarks. “I will try to be faithful 
and steadfast,” said he, and stand up for the 
faith and for the right wherever I am, and shall 
hope to keep my children trained in the nur- 
ture and admonition of the Lord.” 

After a word of prayer with them, Mr. Pat- 
terson and Helen turned their horses homeward. 

Good-byes were said, and the mother prom- 
ised that Helen should hear from time to time 
of the welhbeing of her little namesake. 

Mrs. Patterson and Jerusha were highly 
entertained by the account. 

“ I haven’t a doubt but we’ll see that child,” 
said Jerusha. “For if they live and prosper 
they will be sure to come east sometime.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 

AN EVENTFUL WALK. 

O NCE ill a long while Jerusha went to her 
old home to spend the day with one of her 
former neighbors, and she gladly accepted the 
invitation of Job Stetzer and his wife, one 
pleasant morning in May, to accompany them. 
She could do it the more readily as Mr. and 
Mrs. Patterson were going to Cedar Run vil- 
lage by appointment. It was arranged that 
Helen should be left at Miss Sharp’s, and Job 
would call for her in the evening. Jack, the 
dog was to be left at home to guard the house, 
which arrangement was not at all to his liking. 
His wistful eyes followed Helen as she climbed 
into the wagon, though he did not attempt to 
run after her. 

“ Take good care of yourself j we’ll be along 
about milkin’ time,” were Jerusha’s parting 
words to Helen. 

She was expected, and Madge sat upon the 
gate-post waiting for her. “ I’ve been so 
’stremely good,” said she, “ that Aunties say I 
may be with you all the time, and you may 

( 91 ) 


92 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

dress my new dolly that Uncle Joe sent me 
from Cincinnati. Oh, I mustn’t forget to tell 
you I have learned all of the fourth command- 
ment. Isn’t that pretty good for me ? ” 

“ Indeed it is,” replied Helen. “ I am glad 
that you are such an obedient and industrious 
little girl. Why, Aunt Prissy told mother the 
other day that they should not know what to 
do without you now.” 

“ They’ve changed more than I have,” in- 
sisted the child. “ They don’t ’spect me now 
to do two things at once, or to be in two places 
at the same time, and you know, yourself, that 
is hard for anybody to do.” 

“ Rather hard, I should think, though we are 
not going to complain of anybody to-day, but 
be in the best humor with all the world. So 
let the sunshine come into your face, and drive 
all clouds away out of sight.” 

“All right. Before you go into the house 
you must come to the stable and see our new 
calf. Aunties said I might let you name it. 
Now don’t you think,” she said insinuatingly, 
“ ‘Sunshine’ would be a pretty name for it? It 
has white spots on its head and on each side of 
its mouth, and it looks very good-natured.” 

Helen assented, saying, “ she could think of 
no name that would be any prettier than Sun- 
shine.” Madge ran into the house and brought 


AN EVENTFUL WALK. 


93 


back a bright ribbon which she threw over the 
calf’s head saying, “ ‘ Sunshine ’ you are named.” 

Aunt Debby shook her head. “The child 
beats me with her odd ways, she makes me feel 
all overish a dozen times a day, though I don’t 
know what to say to her.” 

“ I don’t believe she means anything wrong,” 
replied Helen. 

Aunt Debby brought out her choicest pieces 
of chintz and silk and bits of lace for dressing 
the doll, and even offered to knit it a pair of 
socks with some red worsted she possessed. 

“ This is not a baby doll, but a lady, and she 
must have shoes,” said Madge. “She comes 
from the city, and I want her dressed like the 
ladies in Cincinnati.” 

“ Then Aunt Prissy will have to tell me how 
to cut out the clothes, for I know nothing about 
city dresses,” said Helen. 

“/ tell you! You might as well ask me to 
draw a butterfly and paint it,” she responded. 

“ Wait a minute,” said Aunt Debby rising 
hastily. Leaving the room she returned with a 
colored fashion plate. It mattered not that this 
portrayed the styles of four or five years ago ; 
in the eyes of the girls the ladies were miracles 
of beauty and perfection, and they at once pro- 
ceeded to cut out and plan according to their 
materials. Helen was very expert with her 


94 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTEE. 


needle and performed her part to Madge’s en- 
tire satisfaction. The young lady when dressed 
having received the name of Helen Patterson 
Cincinnati Sharp, was wrapped up in a clean 
linen handkerchief and laid in a drawer to be 
brought out only on special occasions. 

In the afternoon the girls started for a walk, 
intending to keep a look out for Job and ride 
back with him. They pursued the mountain 
road for half a mile, then came to a clearing 
where a cart track led into the woods. 

“ I have been here two or three times with 
Aunt Debby,” said Madge. “Just on the other 
side of that pile of logs there is a brook that 
runs right into the woods, and there are lots of 
lovely moss and beautiful flowers — violets and 
forget-me-nots, and kinds I never saw before. 
We have some home now in the glass on the 
mantel-piece. Do come Helen, and we can pick 
some for you to carry home with you. It isn’t 
near time for Job to come for it wasn’t three 
o’clock when we started.” 

Helen was not so impulsive as Madge, though 
she was not proof against that balmy air as warm 
and bright as a day in June. “We must not 
go very far or we might get lost,” she said, as 
she followed Madge into the wood road. 

“ Fiddle dee dee,” chirped Madge. “ I know 


AN EVENTFUL WALK. 


95 


the way and wouldn’t be afraid to go through 
this whole wood by myself.” 

“ Even though you know some men killed 
a bear hot more than five miles from where 
we are.” 

“ Well, if it’s dead, what is there to be afraid 
of?” 

“ If there was one, there might be two.” 

“I am not afraid; I would not want to stay 
all night, but day time is different.” 

Helen made no further objection, and they 
sauntered along beguiled by the beauty and 
freshness of every thing, from the songs of the 
birds to the lovely tinted moss and sweet wild 
flowers which bloomed alone and uncared for 
by any human hand. 

“ Father says the wild flowers ought to make 
us feel contented and happy in our lot. Here 
they come and bloom every spring just as per- 
fect and beautiful as if there were hundreds of 
people to see them. They do their Master’s will, 
and so may we ; though shut out from nearly 
every body, we may please our Heavenly 
Father.” 

Madge did not like sober talks, as she called 
them. 

“Don’t preach, Helen,” she said with a saucy 
look. “This is Thursday and not Sunday,” 
and off she went into the woods like a butterfly, 


96 DONALD PATTERSON'S DAUGHTER. 

flitting here and there as new forms of beauty 
tempted her. 

Helen followed pleased as she ; and together 
they rambled first this way and then that, tak- 
ing no note of time, thinking of nothing but 
their present enjoyment. 

Suddenly Helen stopped. “ Come, Madge, it 
is time to return. See we are out of sight of 
the brook ; Ave have walked a long way, let us 
turn back, gather some fresh peppermint and 
then we can sit on the fallen logs until we see 
Job’s wagon.” 

“ I know the way,” said Madge in a positive 
tone. “ Just turn around and go back the same 
way we came.” She started off and Helen fol- 
lowed without questioning until after walking 
some time she called, “ Madge where is the 
brook? We ought to be in sight or sound of 
it, 1 am sure, and this does not look like the 
way we came ; the trees are closer together.” 

Madge’s steps had been lagging somewhat 
and at Helen’s words she stopped short and 
looked about her with a bewildered air. Then 
she gave a frightened look at Helen and burst 
into tears. 

Helen realized at once how inconsiderate she 
had been in yielding to Madge’s supposed 
knowledge of the way, and in following her 


AN EVENTFUL WALK. 


97 


without pa3ung attention to the direction in 
which they were going. 

They were lost without a doubt, but there 
was a way out and they would try to find it. 
She breathed a prayer for help and guidance, 
took Madge’s hand and comforting her as best 
she could, she turned to the right, and walked 
on rapidly stopping occasionally to hear possibly 
the sound of running water. 

‘‘Don’t cry, Madge, this wood is not more 
than two miles across, and somebody will 
surely come to look for us if we do not get out 
ourselves.” 

“ But,” sobbed Madge, “ we may have to stay 
here all night and then you know there may be 
— hears ” 

“ Keep up your courage, dear ; I thought you 
were not afraid of meeting bears? ” 

“That was when I did not expect to see 
any,” replied practical Madge. 

“ Our Heavenly Father can take care of us; 
let us walk as fast as we can ; we must come 
out somewhere.” 

They hurried on in silence till Madge, catch- 
ing her foot in a running vine, fell headlong to 
the ground. Helen helped her up, and they 
started on, but in a few moments Madge 
stopped, complaining that she could not walk 
7 : 


98 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

another step. Helen took her in her arms, but 
she was too heavy to be carried. 

What was to be done? Helen could not 
leave her alone ; there was no help for it, they 
must wait until help came. 

In the meantime Job had driven up to the 
house to find the aunts laboring under great 
anxiety and excitement. They had walked as 
far as the brook, but had seen nor heard nothing 
of the girls. It was possible that some one had 
passed whom they knew, and that they had 
taken a ride. 

“ It’s them beguilin’ posies that’s taken them 
off,” said Jerusha. “ I cut up just such a tan- 
trum when I was a child — had men hunting me 
nearly all night. I climbed up in a tree and 
never closed my eyes until morning. But 
there is no time to talk. Mary Ann and I 
will drive home and if she will stay around 
there so as to explain matters to the minis- 
ter when he reaches his house, I will come 
back on the horse and bring Jack with me, he’ll 
find them if they’re in the wood. Job, you go 
back up the road. We passed Tom Townsend 
coming this way, he will turn and go back with 
you, and if you halloo they may hear you. 
Woods are awful deceivin’ apd they may not 
be far off the road.” 

“ I haven’t a doubt but they turned in by the 


AN EVENTFUL WALK. 


99 


brook/* said Miss Debby, “ for it was only yes- 
terday we walked that far with Madge, and she 
said then she meant to take Helen there the 
very next time she came.’* 

They all started according to Jerusha’s direc- 
tions. Tom Townsend willingly turned and 
fastened his horse a little distance up the wood 
road. They then followed the brook, calling 
and shouting as they went. 

Helen and Madge had seated themselves at 
the foot of a large tree. Madge with her head 
in Helen’s lap soon fell asleep, and Helen alone 
watched the darkening shadows, and realized 
to the full extent the anxiety she must now be 
causing her friends, through her own inad- 
vertence. Not a sound did she hear but the 
low notes of some night bird, or the whistling 
of the wind through the branches of the trees. 
She could not help feeling timid as it became 
darker and darker. Then the moon came up 
and here and there were openings where the 
flickering light shone in spots. 

As she sat there wondering what her friends 
were doing for their rescue, she saw something 
approaching through the wood. It came on 
slowly and stealthily, the head bent downward 
as if following a trail. She knew it must be a 
bear, and, powerless to help herself, she leaned 
over Madge and covered her face with her 


100 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

hands, praying earnestly for heavenly aid. The 
dreadful steps came nearer and nearer, then as 
if it had just caught sight of them it made a 
sudden bound. A paw was on her body, its 
tongue was on her hands. One moment of 
sickening fear, then a satisfied whine followed 
by a joyous bark and her arms were thrown 
around the neck of her dog Jack. 

The transition from utter helplessness to 
blessed relief completely overcame Helen, 
while poor Jack, sympathetic in the extreme, 
could only lick her hands and wag his tail to 
show how completely he meant to take her 
under his protection. 

When Helen had wiped away her tears, 
Madge was aroused and informed of their situ- 
ation. Of course there were friends on the 
way ; they might be quite near and the girls 
began to shout as loud as possible. 

“ What is that tied on Jack’s neck ? ” asked 
Madge. 

Helen had not before noticed a paper which 
was tied to the dog’s neck by a string. She 
took him to a spot where the moon shone bright, 
and opening it read ; “ Keep up your sperrits, 
honey, we are coming.” 

Good news indeed. They kept up their 
shouts of “ Father ! ” “ Job ! ” “ Jerusha ! ” 
“ Aunt Debby ! ” the dog joining in their cries 


AN EVENTFUL WALK. 


101 


with a succession of barks. Jack was evidently 
uneasy. He would start forward, run a little 
way, then return and fawn on Helen. “ He 
wants us to follow him,” said Helen, “ but you 
must not try it, and I will not leave you. Per- 
haps I can make him go to meet them. Go, 
Jack,” and she motioned him off; “away, 
Jack,” and wagging his tail he started. It 
seemed a long time before they heard anything ; 
then a far distant halloo, which they answered 
with a shout. The sounds came nearer ; then 
they saw the torch lights approaching through 
the trees. The next moment Jack was jump- 
ing about them and their friends had come. 

There was a close enibrace between the 
father and his child ; they were too full for 
words. 

Madge was hoisted on Job’s shoulder. When 
they came to the brook, there was Jerusha hold- 
ing a lighted pine knot which, in her rejoicing, 
she waved about like a banner. What a joyful 
meeting it was. All were too glad to see the 
wanderers to utter a word of reproach, and 
even Aunt Prissy when Madge declared that 
she was the one to be blamed because she told 
Helen she knew the way, patted the child on 
the back and said “ good child.” 

Jack received a most bountiful breakfast 


102 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

from Jerusha, with more meat on the bones 
than he had been favored with in a long time. 

Before Madge went to bed she took her doll 
out of the drawer and kissed it. 

“ Oh Helen Patterson Cincinnati Sharp ! 
Your poor mother might have have been eaten 
by bears, and you would never have known 
what became of her.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


SUMMER VISITORS. 

T^ELL, Miss Jeruslia Mehitable Boggs, I 
have news for you,” and Helen ran 
into the kitchen, her face glowing with excite- 
ment. “ I am glad that the white clothes are 
in the suds for ” 

“It’s them relicts you are thinkin’ of, I 
reckon,” interrupted Jerusha. 

Helen laughed out. “ You are a wonderful 
woman, Jerusha, and an astonishing guesser. 
Yes, it is the relics and I’ll get them for you 
right away, and keep the news till I come 
back.” 

The relics consisted of a pair of white mus- 
lin window curtains, a fine table cloth and nap- 
kins, and a Marseilles counterpane, articles 
which were not in constant use but kept for 
special occasions, and Helen having once laugh- 
ingly said of them that they were relics of 
former greatness, Jerusha dubbed them “ the 
relicts,” from that time. 

“ You have heard us speak of Judge Lynn 
of New York, father’s friend and classmate in 

( 103 ) 


104 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

college. Well, a letter comes from him this 
morning, saying that his wife and he are travel- 
ing through the West, and will pay us a visit, 
coming probably on the 24th. Now this is the 
22nd ; so you see we shall have to step around 
pretty lively if we are ready for them.” 

“ Your mother is in bed with one of her head- 
aches, and must not be disturbed.” 

“We will not say a word to her before to- 
morrow night. I will do all that I can, but 
you, Jerusha, are the main-spring, or so to 
speak the hub of this wheel, and we must de- 
pend almost entirely upon you.” 

Jerusha was never better pleased than when 
receiving compliments regarding her executive 
ability, and when work crowded upon her she 
came up to the task with a heroic spirit. 

“ Never you fear ; I’ll have these clothes out 
in an hour or so ; it’s a good day for drying 
and I’ll have them ironed before I go to bed. 
I kalkilated to white-wash that room to-mor- 
row, anyway ; but as soon as I get the clothes 
on the line I’ll go right at it, and if you’ll see 
to the dinner. I’ll do the rest.” 

All hands were busy for the rest of the day. 
Mr. Patterson cut and raked off the grass all 
about the house, trimmed the walks, brought 
in apples for baking and eating, and made him- 
self generally useful. All this while poor Mrs^ 


SUMMER VISITORS. 


105 


Patterson in bed wondered what could be the 
cause of the unusual movements she heard 
below. 

“ Is any thing the matter, Helen ? ’’ she 
asked, as she brought in her tea and toast. 

“ Nothing, mother, for you to be disturbed 
about. Jerusha is doing some extra cleaning. 
Get well, little mother, and to-morrow you 
shall see our improvements.” 

“ Don’t tire yourself, darling,” as she re- 
turned her kiss, rejoicing in the bright and 
beautiful young figure so strong and full of 
life. “ Jerusha sometimes attempts to put two 
days in one. You must suggest to her to make 
haste slowly.” 

By common consent the coming of the vis- 
itors was kept a secret from Mrs. Patterson 
until the morning of the twenty-fourth. As 
the day before was damp and threatening she 
had been prevailed upon to keep her room. 

“ How wonderfully nice every thing does 
look,” she said, as she came into the sitting-room 
on the eventful morning. “ You certainly did 
not find all those flowers in the garden ? ” 

“ No, indeed ; Jerusha plodded over to the 
prairie at five o’clock this morning, and brought 
some of the prettiest flowers and vines I ever 
saw. Just look into ‘ the room ’ if you want to 
see some of our doings.” 


106 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


Truly the little parlor never looked so well 
before. Spotlessly clean with walls as white as 
snow, bouquets on the mantel and bureau with 
vines twined around the little looking-glass. 

“You have put on the white spread, and 
tacked up the curtains I see,” the mother said, 
after commending the looks of the room. 
“ Tell me, darling, what is this great secret you 
are keeping from me ? ” 

Helen told her of the expected guests, and 
that only the fear of exciting her and bringing 
on her headache had prevented them from tell- 
ing her before. “ Now look around, mother, 
and tell me candidly if you could have done 
better ? They will not be here before tea. The 
blackberries are picked, the butter is churned 
and put in the cave to keep cool, the bread and 
biscuit are rising out of the pans. A nice leg 
of lamb has been sent us by one of the neigh- 
bors, and you know there were never better 
vegetables than we get from our own garden. 
The ducks, Toby and Toddlekins, are to be sac- 
rificed for to-morrow’s dinner. I am sorry, but 
I suppose it is all right. Jerusha says that is 
what they live for, and there are plenty more 
coming on, and of course we must give the best 
we have to our guests — such great strangers, 
too. As for you, mother dear, I am glad that 
you are feeling so well this morning. This 


SUMMER VISITORS. 


107 


afternoon you must put on your pretty gray 
lawn — thanks to the good ladies who sent it — 
and be the lady, and entertainer. Father, Je- 
rusha and I will attend to every thing, though 
of course we are ready to take advice if you 
see us going astray. Mrs. Townsend came in 
yesterday, and when she heard the news she sat 
down and finished my pink calico for me, so I 
will do nicely too.’^ 

Mrs. Patterson smiled, as Helen in rapid tones 
had placed before her the situation of affairs. 
The embarrassment of it struck her more forci- 
bly than it did Helen, who never having known 
a better home was not distressed to think that 
the new comers were to find them living in a 
home different from any thing they had ever 
experienced. 

But it was only for a moment, and then she 
rated herself as a silly woman. “ Donald and 
I have not, I hope, deteriorated,” and proudly 
she thought, “where can they find a more at- 
tractive girl than Helen ? We can make them 
comfortable and give them plenty to eat. I 
ought to be thankful that things are so much 
better with us than ever before.” 

Judge Lynn had purchased an easy driving 
carriage and horse at one of the large towns, 
deciding it would be more convenient for trav- 


108 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTEK. 


eling off the railroad lines, and he could dispose 
of it as easily on his return home. 

They lost their way once or twice, but finally 
arrived about four o’clock in the afternoon, 
after Jerusha had for the twentieth time be- 
wailed the possibility of their not coming. 

Mr. Patterson went out to the carriage and 
warmly welcomed his friend with his wife. 

Mrs. Lynn looked with amazement at the 
small and unpretending house, the rude fences 
all neat and white washed, but so ordinary. 

Her husband had prepared her somewhat ; 
“ but it is certainly worse than I supposed,” she 
mentally exclaimed. 

She responded however very cordially to the 
greetings of the minister and his wife. She 
kissed Helen, whose bright face and unaffected 
manner won her at once. 

Jerusha stood forth ready to be noticed. The 
Judge made a slight bow, but Mrs. Lynn glanc- 
ing at her made no sign of recognition, and the 
ancient maiden walked off into her own do- 
main, muttering, “ One of them quality you 
read about.” 

To walk from the front yard right into her 
bed-chamber was also a new feature to the fash- 
ionable lady, but .when the family walked in 
with her and took seats, she concluded very 


SUMMER VISITORS. 


109 


truthfully it was the only reception room they 
possessed. 

She looked curiously at this family for the 
first time brought to her notice. She had heard 
of Don Patterson all her life. In her husband’s 
estimation most of the virtues of manhood, 
mental, and physical, were centred in him. 

Though his dress was plain — so very unlike 
that of the ministers she knew in New York 
City — she could not but admit that the man 
himself was quite up to her expectation. 

Then his wife was delicate and lady-like ; in 
fashionable dress she might easily excel many 
whom she knew in the bright circles of her ac- 
quaintance. 

As for the daughter, she was certainly charm- 
ing. Possibly the warm admiring glances which 
Helen bestowed upon the city lady might have 
had some effect in forming her conclusion. 

Certainly Helen had never seen so fine a lady 
before, who in manners and dress was different 
from any person she had ever imagined. Even 
her gloves and shoes seemed the perfection of 
art, while the brilliant jewels which sparkled in 
her ears and on her fingers, to the untutored 
girl seemed to be jewels befitting a queen. 

Jerusha was evidently not so much impressed. 
The failure to recognize her as one of the 
family had hurt her pride. 


110 DONALD PATTEKSON’S DAUGHTER. 


To Helen’s question, “Did you ever see a 
lovelier lady ? ” she answered; “ You are young 
and haven’t seen as much of the world as 
some of your elders, or you wouldn’t judge the 
worth of a woman by the finery she wears. She 
is certainly not one of them women you read 
about in Timothy. They went about in modest 
appariel, wore their hair sleeked back and had 
no gold or pearls in their ears or on their 
fingers. Why I haven’t a doubt if she’d 
bundle up all them gew-gaws and sell ’em she 
would have enough money to build a church.” 

“Judge Lynn is a good man, Jerusha. 
He has a great deal of money, and he gives away 
a great deal every year to charitable purposes. 
He has no children and does not begin to spend 
his income ; then why shouldn’t he buy pretty 
things to please his wife ? She has had them 
all her life, and I suppose she wouldn’t know 
how to do without them now.” 

“ It’s my notion that no man has a right to 
have money lying by doing nobody any good, 
while there are so many in the world, crying 
as you may say for a crust of bread. No ; the 
good book says it is easier for a camel to go 
through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man 
to get to heaven, and I believe it.” 

Helen was somewhat impressed with Je- 
rusha’s earnestness. “ Tell me,” she said, “ what 


SUMMEK VISITORS. 


Ill 


you would do first if you had lots of money, say 
as much as Judge Lynn has? ” 

“ Do ! it wouldn’t take me a minute to de- 
cide what I would do. I’d knock out the back 
end of our church and make it larger. Then 
I’d take away that ricketty stand and build a 
new pulpit, and I’d put a big Bible and hymn 
book on top of it. I’d white-wash inside, get 
backs to the seats, buy a couple of stoves that 
wouldn’t send out more smoke than heat, and 
I’d have the pipes fixed so that there would not 
be danger all the time that they might fall on 
somebody’s head. 

“ I’d buy a lot of hymn books, so that them 
that has voices would have a chance of using 
them. Then I’d stop up the cracks in the win- 
ders, and put in hull panes of glass instid of 
patched ones, and I’d get some blinds or paper 
curtains so that we needn’t have the sun right 
in our eyes ; and I’d fix up the sheds for the 
horses and wagons, and I’d put a decent step 
at the front door, and then I’d expect the 
people to come to church like doves to their 
winders as the prophet says, and I’d look for 
the blessing of the Lord to be poured out.” 

“That would be lovely,” said Helen with a 
sigh of satisfaction. “I never thought that the 
church could be changed, but it is true that the 
seats are uncomfortable and it is certainly very 


112 DONALD PATTEKSON’S DAUGHTER. 


cold in winter ; but Jerusha, you haven’t got 
the money.” 

“ No, I haven’t, but a couple of rings off that 
woman’s fingers would pay the whole business I 
reckon.” 

“I know, Jerusha, that a great many ladies 
wear jewelry. Father has told me that Queen 
Victoria has, in the crown which she wears on 
special occasions, jewels worth over $600,000, 
and it is so valuable that it is kept in an old 
tower with men to guard it all the time.” 

“ More’s the pity ; think of the nations lying 
in sin and*misery waiting for the gospel; think 
of the churches that money would build and the 
ministers that could be supported while they 
were preaching in them.” 

“Take care, Jerusha, or you will be in danger 
of breaking the tenth commandment.” 

“ That’s a fact. I have no need to covet 
what don’t belong to me, for it’s not likely to 
bring any good to me or to any one else.” 

This conversation took place before break- 
fast the morning after the guests had arrived. 
It happened that Judge Lynn rising rather 
earl}^, had walked out to take a look at the new 
country about him, while his wife finished her 
toilet ; and standing near the open window of 
the kitchen in which this conversation occurred 
was startled at hearing his own name. He 


StJMMER VISITORS. 


113 


listened at first with a smile and then with 
quiet thoughtfulness. He remained until Je- 
rusha had finished her stream of talk, and then 
stole quietly away musing as he went. “ That 
was as pointed a sermon as I ever listened to. 
Well, I am glad I heard it, and no less glad 
that Jenny did not. It would only have preju- 
diced her. Evidently, if I have any spare cash, 
I can find an opportunity of spending it just 
here. I must keep my eyes open.” 

8 


CHAPTER X. 


THE APPLE BEE. 


LL were sitting at breakfast when in answer 



to a knock the door was opened and Mr. 
Prior entered. He looked slightly confused at 
the sight of unexpected visitors as he pulled off 
his old straw hat, at the same time bobbing his 
head toward the Judge. 

Take a seat, Mr. Prior,’’ said the minister, 
“ or what is better, join us at our breakfast, and 
take a cup of coffee.” 

“No, thankee ; I had my victuals about three 
hours ago. Martha sent me over this morning 
to ask you to an apple parin’ this afternoon. It 
is a little airly for making apple butter, but we 
have the cider ready, and if she makes it now 
she can bile it out doors, and that is a leetle 
handier than having it around with the rest of 
the cookin’. We’d be pleased to see your com- 
pany too,” — with another bob, — “ that is, if they 
are willin’ to come. The men folks will be 
along about supper time — say six o’clock.” 

The Judge saw that Mrs. Patterson looked 
undecided and guessing the reason said to his 


( 114 ) 


THE APPLE BEE. 


115 


wife, “ I think, Jenny, you will enjoy going to 
the apple paring with Mrs. Patterson, and I cer- 
tainly will be happy to accompany Mr. Patterson 
when he goes. I don’t know, though, whether 
it is hardly fair, Mr. Prior, to make the ladies 
do all the work.” 

“ They like it,” he replied, with a knowing 
wag of the head. “ Why there’s Marthy, my 
wife ; if she couldn’t work she’d be dead. She 
never stops a minute from four o’clock in the 
morning ’till bed time ; day in and day out she 
goes like a water wheel. The young folks are 
coming in the evening,” he said to Helen, “ but 
you and Jerusha are privileeged characters ; so 
come with your mother this afternoon and stay 
the evening too. But I must get around the 
neighborhood a little more lively ; so good-day 
to you all.” 

“I don’t know. Judge,” said Mr. Patterson, 
“ but you were a little hasty in accepting this 
invitation without consulting the ladies. Clara 
would willingly have remained at home with 
Mrs. Lynn. I fear the party this afternoon may 
be of too primitive a character to suit her.” 

“ Not a bit of it,” he responded with a smile. 
“ I want Jenny to have the full benefit of her 
western trip. If it is proper for your own fam- 
ily to attend, there is no reason why we should 
refuse. I really quite enjoy the prospect. I 


116 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


imagine from the specimen we have already seen 
there will be opportunities afforded for studying 
human nature.” 

“Please enlighten me,” asked Mrs. Lynn of 
her hostess, “ as to the nature of the party. W as 
it apple paring, he said ? He spoke of cider too. 
Does he mean that our refreshments will consist 
of apples and cider?” 

“ Not at all. The ladies are expected to pre- 
sent themselves not later than half past one or 
two o’clock in the afternoon. You will take 
with you a large apron and a sharp knife. You 
will don the one and use the other. On enter- 
ing the house baskets and pans of apples will 
confront you on all sides. After being intro- 
duced, you will take your seat and at once begin 
to pare and slice your apples. I think three 
barrels of apples to one of cider is the propor- 
tion used for apple butter, so nimble fingers will 
be needed to accomplish the work.” 

The dainty little fruit knife which lay in 
Mrs. Lynn’s pocket had been used occasionally 
by herself, oftener by her husband to prepare 
fruit for her own eating ; but the idea of sitting 
a whole afternoon paring apples seemed to her 
such a menial occupation that she inwardly 
shuddered at the prospect before her. She 
merely said, however, “It must stain one’s 
fingers terribly, does it not ? ” 


THE APPLE BEE. 


117 


Her husband laughed, “ Not beyond recovery, 
my dear. A little borax and your manicure 
set will soon free them from all discolorment.” 

During the morning Job Stetzer called to say 
that he was going to take his wife and some of 
the neighbor women in the big wagon ; and if 
any of the parson’s folks would like to go, there 
would be plenty of room for them. 

This invitation was accepted for Helen and 
Jerusha; Mr. Patterson and the Judge, intend- 
ing to take a drive, would leave their wives at 
the farmhouse on the way. 

When Mrs. Lynn, from her window, saw 
Helen and Jerusha climbing over the wheel 
into ‘the big wagon,^ her sensibilities were 
shocked. 

“ Riding in that cart and taking the servant 
girl with her ! I do really feel as if I were in a 
foreign country.” 

When Mr. Prior informed his wife that Judge 
Lynn and his lady from New York City would 
be among her guests, her astonishment can be 
best described in her own words as expressed 
to a neighbor who first appeared upon the scene : 
“I was that dumbfounded that I was struck all 
of a heap. ‘ Mirandy,’ says I, (Mirandy Sum- 
mers is helpin’ me for the day), ‘ Mirandy,’ says 
I, ‘ go to the barn and open the box of eggs and 
bring in another dozen ! I had ten dozen ready 


118 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


packed to send to the store to-morrow, and I did 
hate to break into them, but I’ve always heard 
that city people set great store by cake, and I 
didn’t want to be scrimped. So I fairly laid 
myself out and made a Mrs. President Madi- 
son’s pound cake. I even went to the trouble 
to color some white sugar with beet juice, so as 
to make roses on the icin’. Well, if I say it, 
as ought not to say it, it’s as good lookin’ a cake 
as I’ve seen in the country since I came into 
it.” 

Each visitor as she arrived was informed that 
Judge Lynn and his lady were to be present, 
and many regrets were uttered that they hadn’t 
known about it, so that they might have paid 
special attention to their dress. There was 
great speculation about the city lady, and by 
the time she arrived curiosity was at its high- 
est, particularly as Jerusha, when she came, 
gave them to understand that in her opinion no 
such high -flyer as Mrs. Judge Lynn had been 
in that localit}'- before. 

The best rocking chair was reserved for her, 
and the feather cushion shaken up for all it was 
worth. After being introduced to the dozen 
ladies present, Mrs. Lynn was seated with a 
large gingham apron of Mrs. Patterson’s tied 
about her waist, and a bright tin pan of apples 


THE APPLE BEE. 


119 


in her lap, and she was almost inclined to ask 
with the old woman of yore, “ Can this be I?” 

She was offered a sharp knife with a wooden 
handle, but drawing out her fruit knife she re- 
marked she had brought one with her which 
would probably answer her purpose better as 
she was used to it.” 

“ Likely the kind they use at parings in the 
city,” remarked Aunt Jemima Studdiford in a 
low voice, at which Helen was only restrained 
from laughing out by the reproving glance of 
her mother. 

Mrs. Lynn’s efforts at her work were not very 
successful. She gazed in wonder at the dex- 
terity of Jerusha, whose fingers like a machine, 
moved swiftly around the apple, with the skin 
not thicker than paper curling around in a long 
continuous string. 

Mrs. Patterson noticed how thoroughly un- 
comfortable Mrs. Lynn was growing, and the 
proposition that she would pare the apples, 
while Mrs. Lynn might slice them, was gladly 
accepted. 

The conversation which flagged at first, was 
soon begun again. The neighbors by twos and 
threes chattered together about their home 
affairs and bits of news that had come to them 
through letters and newspapers. Occurrences 
of months before it may be, were all told with a 


120 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


relish and received with an interest, that made 
the city lady wonder that lives so devoid of all 
that to her made life desirable could be endured 
with such complacency. 

By the time the gentlemen arrived the sup- 
per was on the table. About half the company 
sat down at once, the minister’s family and 
their guests among them, except Jerusha, who 
assisted Mrs. Prior in waiting upon her company. 

The cake with the red roses was placed con- 
spicuously in the center of the table while 
every spare corner was filled with vegetables, 
sauces, preserves and pickles. The great dish 
of fried chicken was placed before the minister, 
who sat at the head of the table. This dish 
was followed later on by a large platter con- 
taining apple dumplings. 

The Judge ate as if he had been accustomed 
to such fare all his life and his two-tined fork 
did him good service. 

Mrs. Lynn could not but acknowledge that 
every thing was well cooked, and though served 
in the plainest of dishes in every variety of 
shape and color, she really enjoyed the meal. It 
was only when Martha Prior asked her whether 
she would take “long or short sweetning” 
with her dumplings, that she would have been 
completely nonplussed, had not Helen who sat 
next to her whispered, “ sugar or molasses ; ’’ 


THE APPLE BEE. 


121 


and she was able to make her choice without 
betraying her ignorance. 

The Judge conversed affably with the farmers 
about him. He was rather surprised at the 
good sense and shrewdness displayed. They 
asked many questions about eastern affairs, — 
the state of the crops, the price of grain, the 
value of land. 

“ There is no better land anywheres,” re- 
marked Mr. Prior, “ than we have in this 
county. It takes time and trouble to break up 
and fence it, but when that is done all you need 
to do is to plough and put in your seed and 
you have your crops.” 

“ That is, if the drought and grasshoppers 
don’t come,” interrupted one. 

“That’s so. The ’hoppers came one year 
within two miles of us, ’twas only the river 
that saved us. They nearly ruined some of the 
farmers that year. We have first-rate fruit too. 
Generally plenty here when they are scarce at 
the East. I was wondering the other day ” — 
turning to the minister, — “ what kind of apples 
they had in the garden of Eden. It don’t ap- 
pear to me that they could have beat our 
Polly walders.” 

The gentlemen laughed. 

“We have,” said the Judge, “an apple in 
New York state called ‘The Paradise Apple,’ 


122 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


but the fruit is poor and the tree is generally 
used to graft on.” 

In the meanwhile Mrs. Lynn was escorted to 
the barn to see the new heifer, which to her 
surprise she found to be only a cow. The pigs, 
the calves, the chickens, were all talked about, 
and commented upon, and poor Mrs. Lynn, who 
knew nothing of the merits of any of them, 
could only exclaim, “ Indeed I ” “ Is it pos- 
sible ! ” and such other ejaculations as came to 
her at the time. 

After the second table had been provided for, 
the older people began to take their departure. 
Helen returned home with her parents, but 
Jerusha remained to help Martha “ clear up,” 
and to assist her in passing the cake and cider 
around to the young folks when the time came 
for them to have it. 

The next morning as the two ladies sat to- 
gether at their sewing, Mrs. Lynn referring to 
the previous day said, “ Mrs. Patterson, it does 
seem to me that this life you are leading here 
is one of self sacrifice and totally unnecessary. 
That you, a lady born, accustomed to all the 
comforts of life, and able to occupy the position 
in society that education can secure, should for 
the sake of these ignorant and uncultured peo- 
ple spend the best part of your life in minister- 
ing to and associating with them, is to say the 


THE APPLE BEE. 


123 


least, in my estimation, a thankless office. You 
can not elevate them, neither can you find their 
society congenial. And then your daughter — 
why should her life be wasted in this out-of-the- 
way place, and her young spirits be burdened 
and blighted by the misery and want around, 
which she has not power to change ? ” 

“Does Helen’s face wear to you a melancholy 
appearance?” asked the mother with a smile. 

“No, indeed, it does not. She is the most 
cheerful and happy looking child I ever saw, a 
veritable sunbeam ; but she has never known 
anything better except from books, consequently 
she is ignorant of the great world, where with 
a few seasons in the city, if allowed, she might 
be an attractive belle in society. Buried in 
this wilderness, she will never be heard of.” 

“ Our ambition for our child is not that she 
should shine in fashionable life. Such a life 
would neither be satisfying or profitable to her- 
self or us. When she was born we gave her to 
the Lord, and we have endeavored to instil 
into her mind the duty of living for others, and 
not for herself alone. She is well known in 
the congregation, she is happy in her Sunday- 
school work, she is blessed with good health, 
and I am very sure that she is a valuable helper 
in her father’s work. I do acknowledge that 
it has required courage and self sacrifice to re- 


124 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

main in this field, but Providence has placed 
us here, and here we are likely to remain until 
the way is made clear for something else. If 
we listen to Providence in indicating the path 
of duty, and not in a spirit of discontent en- 
deavor to turn things around, we shall have the 
divine favor. Heaven is as near us in Cedar 
Run — perhaps nearer, with good faith on our 
part — than if we were in the east.” 

To Mr. Prior and his wife the apple bee was 
an era in their lives, and they talked of it, and 
brought it into their conversation at all avail- 
able times. “ You would naturally expect,” he 
would say, “ that folks that comes from New 
York city would know so much they’d nearly 
burst their sides a laughin’ to see how mortal 
green we are ; and I tell you it did me good to 
hear them askin’ questions, and find how ignor- 
ant they are on some pints that are as plain as 
A B C to us. And when Marthy took the fine 
lady out to see the heifer, ‘ why it is only a 
cow,’ says she, ‘ only a cow ! ’ haw ! haw ! haw I 
You mought have thought she was on the look- 
out for a grizzly, 


CHAPTER XL 


A MORNING TALK. 

rpHE friends, Judge Lynn and Mr. Patterson, 
were sitting under the shade of the great 
walnut tree which was nearly opposite the house, 
their conversation naturally tending to the 
growth of the western country, its present as- 
pect and its possibilities for the future. 

“ Intense activity is the ruling spirit of the 
west,” remarked Mr. Patterson. “The one 
idea of getting on in the world, and bettering 
the condition of one’s family, is the prevailing 
sentiment of those, who, having something to 
begin with, emigrate from the East.” 

“ And yet the same industry and economy 
would probably bring about the same result if 
they had remained at home.” 

“Possibly so, and yet the requirements of 
fashion and society largely interfere with the 
saving of money. The calls are numerous, and 
the temptations to extravagance are constant 
and ensnaring. Here the plainest garb excites 
no criticism and every one works for the good 
time coming.” 


( 125 ) 


126 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


“ It is well enough for some,” responded the 
Judge; “but is this work to your taste, Don- 
ald? Do you never aspire to more refined 
society than the people we met at Mr. Prior’s, 
and do you think the superior education you 
possess compatible with this life of evident 
drudgery ? I know you could, and it seems to 
me you should, fill a larger sphere.” 

The minister smiled. “ Some one has said 
that the soil in Equatorial Africa is not half so 
hard for the gospel plow as the heathen in our 
home congregations. The whole world is the 
field, and we can only follow as we are led, 
obey the Master and leave the rest with Him.” 

“ I do not deny there is work to be done ; 
but why should you, who are so well fitted to 
supply a pulpit where your talents would be ap- 
preciated, remain among these people who are 
socially and intellectually so far beneath you? ” 

“ In determining such questions. Judge, one 
should truly estimate the souls of men. An 
educated ministry is as much needed, perhaps 
more needed, in these new countries, than in an 
old field. Emigrants by scores are settling in 
the west. Sometimes the means of grace are 
not at hand ; oftener the fault is in themselves ; 
being strangers to vital godliness, they are in- 
different to its claims, and so drift away. But 
our worst enemies are infidels, who reject the 


A MORNING TALK. 


127 


Bible, despise the Sabbath and deny the ex- 
istence of God. They are often men of strong 
reasoning powers, an ignorant person cannot 
cope with them, and their teachings are so 
much more acceptable to the natural heart 
than the stern truths of the gospel, that they 
lead others to doubt even if they do not en- 
tirely convince them. Then, too, the foreign 
element is pouring into the country with its po- 
litical and social errors and influences. Popery 
puts in a wedge wherever it finds room for it, 
and its priests are spying out the land and send- 
ing forth their lines in all available places. 
They have money, men and means for their 
work. All these several influences are hin- 
drances to spiritual growth. I must admit that 
the good results of our labors do not always 
keep pace with our efforts, but I have learned 
that what may be failures in the sight of men, 
may be regarded by God as successes. The 
church will have to move with vigor or be left 
behind, and the enemies of Christ will take 
possession. If Christians would wake up to the 
needs of the hour by consecration and prayer, 
the power of the Lord would be seen in the 
conversion of thousands. 

“ And yet in the sixteen years I have been 
here I have had times of discouragement. 
Once in particular my faith was very low. I 


128 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


had been kept in the house with rheumatism 
caught by exposure ; Clara was in bed with 
malaria, and Helen was then our only help. 
This was a year or more before Jerusha’s ad- 
vent. The Board were some weeks behind in 
their appropriation ; my horse given by kind 
friends in the east had died, and I had a num- 
ber of debts at the store, and for necessaries. 
Therefore when Job Stetzer called one morn- 
ing on his way to the Run, and offered to bring 
back anything we might want, I said, ‘ Nothing 
to-day, Job ; thank you, except my mail from 
the oiB&ce.’ I did not then know that the last 
bit of salt pork was gone from the barrel,* that 
the bin held not a single potato, and that the 
last morsel of flour had been used for break- 
fast. And what do you think my little girl 
had found for dinner that day ? For her mother, 
an egg and a cup of pennyroyal tea ; for her- 
self and me, she had pounded some corn as 
fine as she could get it, and made some cakes ; 
these with the tea constituted our dinner. My 
heart was like lead, but Helen noticing my 
gloomy face was so bright and cheery! I 
could not complain. She quoted a Scripture 
promise, ‘ But my God shall supply all your 
need, according to his riches in glory by Christ 
Jesus.’ 

“ ‘ I shouldn’t wonder, father dear, if some- 


A MORNING TALK. 


129 


thing should happen to give us a real good sup- 
per. If not, I’ll put my pride in my pocket 
and ask Mr. Stetzer to lend us something ’till 
our money comes.’ 

“ To this I agreed, for I knew we could not 
starve, and just then Job’s halloo sounded from 
outside. 

“ Helen ran out for the mail, and bringing it 
in, said she must go out by the horses, as there 
were two boxes that had come for us and Job 
would bring them in. By the way, do 3^011 re- 
member Cummings of our class ? ” 

“ Jim Cummings ? Yes, indeed ; and a dull 
mind he had. I remember he used to impose 
on your good nature to help him out in his 
Latin and Greek. Well what of him ? ” 

“ Simply this ; he has turned out wonder- 
fully well. He has a fairly large and wealthy 
church in Ohio ; and is doing most excellent 
work. 

“ I do not know that he can grapple any more 
successfully with his Latin and Greek than he 
did in college, but he has good common sense, 
and a tender and sympathetic spirit. He has a 
fine voice with good elocution; can prepare 
plain practical sermons, and is most acceptable 
to his people.” 

“ Truly,” said the Judge, “ if spch js the case 
9 


130 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


the Lord has taken the weak things of the 
world to confound the things which are mighty.” 

“Well he was untried and timid in those 
early days. You must call and see him on your 
return ; he will give you a warm welcome. 
He has been an invaluable friend to me, con- 
stantly sending me papers and books, and last 
year a fine warm overcoat. He jokingly tells 
me he has not paid up for the hard places over 
which I helped him. 

“ One of the letters I received on that event- 
ful day about which I began to tell you, con- 
tained my half-yearly allowance, cut down 
somewhat for want of funds. The other was 
from my friend Cummings, and I soon learned 
that the two boxes were also due to his thought- 
fulness. 

“We lost no time in opening them. One of 
them was a contribution of clothing and bed- 
ding from the ladies of his congregation ; the 
other, a special donation from himself to my 
wife containing choice groceries of tea, coffee, 
sugar, fine crackers, cocoa, potted meats, canned 
goods and delicacies such as we had seldom seen 
in this part of the country. No one can know 
unless they have experienced it, the blessed re- 
lief, the overwhelming sense of God’s nearness 
to his people in their greatest extremity, that 
came to us that day. My wife crept out of her 


A MORNING TALK. 


131 


bed and we all three kneeled around that box, 
our tears flowing freely, while I thanked God 
for his infinite mercy. 

“ If churches only knew the benefit conferred 
upon western missionaries by the arrival of 
warm clothing, and in fact of any thing that 
can be used in a family, they would exert them- 
selves more than they do for the brethren less 
favored than themselves, and would send fre- 
quent donations to cheer them amid their toil 
and weariness and want.” 

“I hope,” said the Judge, “you are not in- 
clined to make a merit of your privations ? 
That principle I always looked upon as heath- 
enish or popish. Afflicting the body for the 
good of the soul should not belong to our 
creed.” 

“You mistake me greatly,” rejoined his 
friend. “ As I said before, if this country is 
not evangelized for Christ, the hordes of Satan 
will crowd in and take possession. This cry 
came to the Seminary and made a great impres- 
sion upon me, and in the spirit of what I felt 
was true consecration I said, ‘ Here am I, Lord ; 
send me.’ Clara had been possessed of a mis- 
sionary spirit from childhood and willingly be- 
came my companion. The people who settled 
here were poor. There were no improvements 
to boast of. We endured hardships the first 


132 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTER. 


five years ; we lacked a comfortable house, and 
the roads were miserable at certain seasons of 
the year. 

“ There were deprivations — we dare not call 
them sacrifices, when we know the Son of man 
had not where to lay his head. If my last 
years should be spent among brighter scenes, I 
shall always bless the Providence that placed 
me here to minister to these needy ones, to 
learn their wants and to share their interests. 
We often sow in tears and weariness of spirit, 
but, God willing, we shall yet rejoice in gath- 
ered slieaves whose compensation eternity only 
can measure.” 

The Judge related this conversation to his 
wife as soon as he had an opportunity. 

She listened attentively. “ That was a good 
hit you made,” said she, “ when you spoke of 
afflicting the body for the good of the soul, for 
that is just the way it looks to me. I see no 
sense or reason for people who can do better, to 
live as they do here. The wonder to me is that 
the daughter with such associations is not en- 
tirely spoiled. I had a talk with Mrs. Patter- 
son, and gave her to see that I considered such 
a life as this actually suicidal.” 

‘‘Do not be hasty, my dear. There is no 
doubt to me, but with a longer sojourn here, 
some of our pre-conceived notions will be modi- 


A MORNING TALKo 


133 


fied. In fact my views have already changed 
greatly since I came here. As for us we have 
had a more favored field, but how much have 
we done ? In this little corner which we de- 
preciate, more has been accomplished by con- 
stant persistent effort, amid trials, discomforts 
and discouragements, than one, at first looking 
at the field, would think possible. My wife, I 
have never before realized what a useless life I 
have led. We are both of us professing Chris- 
tians. Yet our ambitions and exertions have 
generally commenced and ended with our- 
selves.” 

“ I have never heard you speak in this way, my 
dear, and I really do not know what you mean. 
What respect would be shown to a minister in 
New York who dressed as shabbily as Mr. Pat- 
terson ? He has, I admit, an intelligent face, 
but there must be a weakness in his make-up or 
he would never rest contented in such a life as 
this.” 

“You do not know the man. Reserve your 
opinion, Jennie, until you know him better. 
His very look humbles me. He is doing his 
Master’s work where it is needed ; I doubt if 
he will ever seek another situation.” 

“But even if he is an intelligent man and a 
good preacher what church would come here to 
seek him ? And if his name should be proposed. 


134 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

the name of his present charge would stand in 
his way. No, I am sure, if he is really the cul- 
tured person you say he is, he would never be 
willing to bury his talents, and bring up his 
family in this starvation place. Humility is a 
worthy trait, but you have never been given to 
boasting, and I cannot agree with you that our 
past lives are subjects for self-reproach. You 
have always been a liberal contributor to the 
church. We occupy one of the most expensive 
pews. You send every Christmas valuable 
presents to our minister’s family. You give 
regularly to all the objects of benevolence ; in 
fact I do not believe you ever refuse to con- 
tribute to any worthy object which is brought 
to your notice.” 

“The’ mere opening of my pocket-book and 
bestowing money when I have been called upon 
to do it, has not cost me what might be called 
self-denial. We have attended divine service 
when the weather and our feelings were agree- 
able. We have given perhaps liberally, but 
never any thing like one-tenth of our income 
all told to religious purposes, and with that we 
considered our duty ended. Here is a case in 
point. There is not another man on earth that 
I esteem as greatly as my friend Patterson. I 
have corresponded with him ever since I left 
college. He would never tell his needs, and I 


A MORNING TALK. 


135 


never inquired, although I find he has at times 
been reduced to the direst poverty, while I have 
lived in plenty or, if you please, luxury. The 
lack of zeal or interest we have shown has been 
not onl}^ an impediment to our own spiritual 
growth but has delayed the progress of Christ’s 
gospel. This visit I trust will be beneficial in 
more ways than one. I feel quite sure that in 
the Lord’s eyes Donald is the rich man and I 
the poor one.” 

The wife did not reply. Her conversation 
with Mrs. Patterson had impressed her against 
her will, and now this in the same strain was 
calculated to make her feel at least uncomfort- 
able. It took her back to the time when she, a 
young girl in the midst of a revival, gave her 
heart to the Lord ; when she found no amount 
of church or Sabbath-school work irksome, but 
with a real consecration she gave herself up to 
work for the Master. She had married and 
gone to live in a city, and the encroachments 
of wealth and society had weaned her from her 
first love, and the world had crept in to en- 
snare her heart. Alas, was not this only too 
true ? 


CHAPTER XII. 


NEEDED IMPEOVEMENTS. 

T he congregation of Cedar Run never felt 
tlie demands of hospitality more incum- 
bent upon them than they did at the present 
time, and considered themselves amply repaid 
as well as honored by the visits of the New York 
Judge and his wife. 

Chickens, turkeys and ducks were slaughtered 
without mercy, eggs became quite scarce at the 
store, and the milk was so robbed of its cream 
that many of the churns had unlooked-for hol- 
idays. Mrs. Lynn accepted the invitations 
oftener to please her husband than herself, 
though she frankly confessed that here and 
there among the farmers’ families she really had 
enjoyed herself, and had partaken of excellent 
and well prepared meals. 

The Judge seemed almost to become a boy 
again and relished this new phase of society, so 
free from conventional restraints. He even oc- 
casionally slipped off his coat and sat in his 
shirt sleeves along with the men, returning only 
a quizzical glance to his wife’s look of aston- 
( 136 ) 


NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. 


137 


ishment with the remark, “We gentlemen 
have the advantage of you ladies, this warm 
weather.” 

Miss Debby Sharp and her sister also enter- 
tained the minister’s family and his guests, and 
it was a cause of rejoicing to them that their 
Cincinnati brother came at this time to make 
them a visit. 

Mr. Sharp was a merchant in good standing 
in Cincinnati, and a man of more than ordinary 
ability. The gentlemen found they had much 
in common, so that there was no lack of interest 
in their conversation. 

When allusion was made to the church and 
congregation, the Judge remarked that the 
building ought by all means to be put in better 
shape. “ It must be, I should suppose, a very 
uncomfortable place in winter. I have been 
thinking,” he added, turning to Mr. Patterson, 
“ to propose to you that I am willing to locate 
right here, my contribution to the ‘ Church 
Erection Fund ’ for the present year.” 

“I will do the same,” said Mr. Sharp, 
promptly. “ My father was one of the number 
who assisted in building the present church, and 
I have always intended to aid them in improv- 
ing the building. I will also make another do- 
nation in the name of my two sisters.” 

Mr. Patterson of course was highly gratified, 


138 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


and said he was quite certain that help and 
means would not be wanting from the con- 
gregation with such generosity to stimulate 
them. 

As the next day was the Sabbath, it was 
agreed that Mr. Patterson should call a con- 
gregational meeting for the next week, and 
that before the time arrived a contractor should 
be seen who could make an examination, and 
report upon the probable cost of the repairs in 
question. 

The news of this expected improvement was 
received by all interested with the greatest 
satisfaction, but to none did it bring more joy 
than to the dwellers at the parsonage. 

Jerusha was delighted. The Judge, for rea- 
sons of his own, made it his especial business 
to have a talk with her on the subject. 

“Now if you can think,” he said to her, “of 
anything else that is needful to be done, be- 
sides what we propose, I hope you will men- 
tion it before we begin the work. We are go- 
ing, you know, to knock out the back of the 
church, take away the ricketty stand, and build 
a new pulpit. We will whiten the inside of the 
church, have seats with backs to them and ex- 
change the old stoves for a couple that will not 
smoke ; we will have new stove-pipes too, so 
that they will not be likely to fall on the heads 


NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. 


139 


of the people, and so that when winter comes 
there shall be a comfortable place for service. 
The cracks in the windows must be stopped up, 
the broken panes of glass replaced by whole 
ones, and then to keep the sun from shining 
into the faces of the people we shall have some 
new shades. The sheds too, I see, need to be 
strengthened and roofed, and a covered porch 
at the front door would be a benefit on rainy 
days. Now can you think of any thing else ? ” 

Jerusha did not know her own w^ords had 
been taken down by the Judge when he heard 
her utter them. Her face was a study. She 
looked curiously at him, as she heard her own 
words quoted, but he preserved his gravity. 

“ Did Helen tell you ? ” she gasped out. 

“ Not at all,” he answered. 

“ Why sir, these are the very things I’ve 
longed and longed to have done. It is the 
Lord that has put it into your mind, I’m sure 
of that, sir.” 

“ I am sure of it too,” he replied. “ I know 
that I have never engaged in anything that has 
afforded me more real satisfaction. The pleas- 
ure of seeing it all completed will be denied me, 
but I shall hope for a full description of it from 
rny friends.” 

Jerusha’s mind was full of self-reproach. 
“ The blessing of the Lord will follow you for 


140 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

this. The good book says, ‘ They that honor 
me I will honor,’ and ‘the Lord loveth the gates 
of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.’ 

“ I was really afeard,” she continued in an 
apologetic tone, “ that when you came you 
might feel like enticin’ our preacher away. No- 
body knows his worth more than we do, and 
that there’s few equal to him, even in New York 
city, I can entirely believe, but he can’t be 
spared. Why, if he was the pope of Rome, or 
Queen Victory he couldn’t be more thought of, 
and if he should leave us, I really believe we 
would go to pieces.” 

“I believe with you,” he replied, “that he 
could do no better work for the Master than he 
is doing here.” 

The announcement of the congregational 
meeting was made from the desk on the Sab- 
bath. Among those who had no inkling of the 
cause of it, there was considerable speculation. 
The most of them believed that Judge Lynn 
had prevailed upon their minister to leave them 
and a great many “I told ye so’s,” and, “just 
as I expected’s,” were indulged in. Curiosity 
was sufficiently aroused to bring out a large 
number on the night appointed, and when their 
fears were quieted by a true statement of the 
object, a general look of satisfaction was visible 
upon the faces of the audience. 


NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. 


141 


Mr. Patterson gave the opinion of the 
architect and the probable cost of the improve- 
ment. He informed them that these changes 
were undertaken at the instance of two good 
friends who k'indly offered to bear a large share 
of the expense ; “ but this,” said he, “ does not 
exempt us from doing our part, and I hope that 
every man, woman and child who has an in- 
terest in this church will feel it a privilege and 
duty to contribute something. We shall value 
our improvements all the more, if by self-denial 
we have helped to bring them about.” 

Jimmy Hines arose at once and said, “I’ll 
take a paper through the meeting and see what 
can be done.” 

Some small sums were promised, several 
days’ work on the building were obtained, Mr. 
Patterson added a subscription and then Judge 
Lynn arose and made a short speech in which 
he said : 

“ God’s house should at least be as comfort- 
able a place as our own dwellings, and such 
means as we devote to his worship will surely 
bring with it a blessing and reward. The ex» 
perienee I have gained this summer,” continued 
the Judge, “ has been more valuable to me than 
any other season of my life. The need of this 
church and people leads me to think of the 
many churches scattered over this beautiful 


142 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTERc 


western country, some of which, we know, are 
in much greater straits than yourselveSo Broth- 
ers and sisters, from this time forth let us do 
what we can for the advancement of the Lord’s 
kingdom; let us with our mean^ put his cause 
first, knowing that if we do this, all needed 
blessings will be added unto us/’ 

Mr. Sharp also spoke a few words relating to 
the early history of the church, to those whom 
he remembered as a boy and the few who now 
remained. He was very happy to assist in re- 
modelling the old church which he never in- 
tended to forget, and he had never engaged in 
any enterprise which had given him greater 
pleasure. 

With such leaders in the good work, was it 
any wonder that the whole congregation should 
become inspired on the subject, and should ex= 
press themselves as willing to help in every pos- 
sible way? 

The farmers promised to haul in their wagons 
all needed lumber and supplies, and at the 
Judge’s wise suggestion, that the road near the 
church, which had always been in a miserable 
condition, stumps and stones abounding in 
many places, might be wonderfully improved 
by a little work, in which even the young men 
and boys might assist, was accepted cheerfullyo 
“I think,” the Judge said, “that my wife in- 


NEEDED IMPKOVEMENTS. 


143 


tends after reaching home, to send some shades 
for your windows, some lamps and a new Bible 
and hymn-book for the pulpit.” 

Mrs. Lynn smiled in return to his glance. 
She was quite willing to endorse any charity 
which her husband might propose. She had 
more than once remarked that such a building 
did not deserve the name of church, and that 
slie did not suppose that even in heathen coun- 
tries the buildings could be much worse. Mrs. 
Lynn’s views, however, had changed materially 
on many points since she left her city home. 
She was not a vain woman, but in regard to 
herself she had always taken a very compla- 
cent view. Of one thing she had become con- 
vinced, and that was, that while she had re- 
ceived and enjoyed the blessings a kind 
Providence had bestowed upon her, she had 
'acted as if she had a right to them, and had 
never been grateful enough for the many 
mercies which had been showered upon her. 

When she thought of her past life, and com- 
pared it with that of Mrs. Patterson, she felt 
humiliated and fully determined, with God’s 
help, when she returned home, to lead a more 
useful and consistent life than she had pre- 
viously done. 

It is wonderful when hearts and hands are in 
unison how much can be accomplished. The 


144 DONALD PATTEIlSON^S DAUGHTEE. 


church had stood between twenty and thirty 
years, and as we have seen was small, unattrac- 
tive and dingyo The road that led to it was 
deplorably bad. The Judge’s suggestion was 
zealously taken hold of by the boys and young 
men, and in a few weeks they all looked with 
wonder upon what had been accomplished. The 
greatest wonder of all to them was that they 
had not before seen the necessity and under- 
taken to meet it. 

We have,” said Jimmy Hines, “ sometimes 
to see evils with other people’s eyes before we 
realize they are evils. If it had not been for 
this wise man of New York, we might have 
gone on for a dozen more years stumbling 
over the stumps and ruts. As I said, it takes 
somebody to make a commencement, and now 
that we have made a start, why not try to im- 
prove the hill road near Cedar Creek ? A day’s 
work would help that mightily.” 

So one improvement led on to another, and 
there was scarcely a house in the neighborhood 
that did not show indications of progress in one 
way or another. 

The ground was levelled and sodded around 
the church, some of the trees cut down which 
stood in the way, and in two months’ time the 
improvements had all been made. 

The Judge, who left some time before this. 


NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. 


145 


was as good as his word in sending new shades 
for the windows, and lamps, which latter were 
of so unique and bright a pattern that it was 
thought by some almost a pity to use them ex- 
cept for ornament. Jerusha expressed her 
willingness to keep them in order, which offer 
was gladly accepted by Job Stetzer who had 
long before volunteered as sexton, receiving no 
remuneration. 

The full congregation in attendance the first 
Sunday the church was opened, bore witness to 
the interest and satisfaction felt by ail its mem- 
bers. Many who lived at no great distance but 
who had never been induced to enter the 
church, now came from curiosity and to hear 
the music, for Judge Lynn with his other gifts 
had sent a small organ, which assisted wonder- 
fully in the singing. The music was now 
under the care of Helen, who played the simple 
hymn tunes quite easily ; and with so many 
good voices the singing proved a real feature in 
the service. 

New hymn books had been procured by 
members of the congregation, who encouraged 
by the larger gifts, desired to show some extra 
liberality themselves. 

Mr. Patterson preached his first sermon in 
the new church from the one hundredth Psalm 
and fourth verse : “ Enter into his gates with 
10 


146 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise : 
be thankful unto Him, and bless his name.” 

He told his people that with the new church 
should come new consecration of its members, 
and more earnest desire and prayer for the 
conversion of the many around them and in 
their own families who were still out of Christ. 

Mr. Patterson had some time before this 
given up the Sunday-school to Mr. Hines’ su- 
pervision, and had established two other preach- 
ing places four or five miles apart, which he 
visited on alternate afternoons of the Sabbath. 
Sunday-schools had been started leading to the 
desire for preaching. He also held prayer- 
meetings during the week in other localities 
and evidences of increasing interest were mani- 
fest in all of them. 

As the railroads multiplied and came toward 
this part of the country, saving cartage of 
grain, which they had formerly been obliged to 
haul long distances to dispose of, the farmers 
became more prosperous ; more money was 
brought in and the lives of the people were 
made easier in consequence. 

A hundred dollars was added to Mr. Patter- 
son’s salary, which was most acceptable, and 
enabled him also to increase his contribution to 
the objects of benevolence. 

It had been usual in the fall to make the min- 


NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. 


147 


ister’s family a donation visit, but as the gifts 
generally consisted of eatables, and the oppor- 
tunity being seized upon as a time of enjoy- 
ment for young and old, there was often but lit- 
tle left of the gifts after the appetites of the 
visitors had been satisfied ; but this having been 
an uncommonly good season for crops and 
fruit, the donation was a superior one. Flour, 
potatoes and meat were sent in sufficient quan- 
tities to supply the family for the winter, be- 
sides the eatables needed for the supper. Je- 
rusha rejoiced in having a dozen live chickens 
added to her flock, also a little pig which put 
her in a good humor. She had usually com- 
plained when “ The Donation ” was mentioned, 
that it took a week to get ready for it and an- 
other week to “redd up ” after it was over, and 
“that was all there was to it,” but this unusual 
display of generosity changed her views, and 
she jocosely remarked to Mr. Hines, “When 
you want to give another one, let me know and 
you’ll find us ready for it.” 


CHAPTER XIIL 


THE MISSIONARY MEETING. 

T he first Wednesday afternoon in the month 
was the time of the meeting of the 
Woman’s Missionary Society for Home and 
Foreign Work in New York. Into the pleas- 
ant parlor connected with the Avenue 

church, forty ladies had assembled. It was the 
first autumn meeting and the summer travelers 
had all returned to assume for the winter its 
cares, pleasures and duties. 

The president of the meeting, in her opening 
remarks, said, “ This should be a meeting of 
praise as well as prayer. We have all returned 
from our wanderings in renewed health and 
vigor ; none have been taken away by death. 
There were but twenty -five at our last meeting. 
To-day the secretary tells me we number forty. 
It is only fitting therefore that we should ren- 
der hearty prayer and praise to God who has so 
kindly watched over us, and brought us to- 
gether again. And as we bless God for his 
abundant grace to us, may our hearts yearn 
over our dear brethren and sisters who are de- 
( 148 ) 


THE MISSIONARY MEETING. 


149 


prived of the blessings we enjoy ; and may we 
be constrained to do more this year than we 
have ever done before to help and encourage 
them. We need a better representation of 
workers from our own congregation. Let us 
pray for this. We also need a more thorough 
consecration of ourselves and all that we have 
to Christ. ‘ They that wait upon the Lord 
shall renew their strength.’ 

“ Let us then wait upon him and receive the 
strength he has promised to give. Home mis- 
sions and its needs will occupy our attention 
to-day, and I trust we may all feel called upon 
to speak or pray as the Spirit gives us utter- 
ance.” 

After prayer and singing a lady arose in the 
back of the room and came slowly forward. 
The president greeted her cordially. “ I trust, 
Mrs. Lynn, you have something to say to us to- 
day,” while she inwardly wondered, as every 
one present did, what could have induced Mrs. 
Lynn to come forward, she who had seldom at- 
tended the meetings, and when she did, had in- 
variably refused to take part. 

Mrs. Lynn smiled at the president as she 
said, “ I would like to say a few words.” Then 
turning to her audience she began : 

“My dear sisters : — It is from a sense of posi- 
tive duty I come before you this afternoon. I 


150 DONALD PATTEKSON’s DAUGHTER. 

am quite sure if I have ever expressed myself 
to any of you on the subject of Home Mis- 
sions, it has been in a very indifferent way, and 
this I must confess was partly because I felt 
indifferent as to the subject. It formerly 
seemed to me that the money sent from our 
churches ought to be enough to supplement the 
salaries of feeble congregations, assist in build- 
ing the churches, and providing the needs of 
Sabbath-schools in the field, and that so much 
individual work was unnecessary. To-day my 
views on this subject are changed, and I realize 
that the hearty co-operation of every Christian 
is needed if the missionary work, foreign and 
domestic, should advance in the ratio which the 
church, and the Great Head of the church, has 
a right to expect. 

“Dear friends, part of this summer I have 
been living in the house of a Home Missionary, 
and I must confess that I have a much more ex- 
alted view of the life of these self-sacrificing 
ministers than ever before, and a far more feel- 
ing sense of the inertness and indifference of 
Christians at home. 

“ I went to them feeling in regard to myself 
satisfied and complacent. I left them realizing 
that my whole life hitherto had been unprofit- 
able, and that though I have been a professing 
Christian for many years, I have been a laggard 


THE MISSIONARY MEETING. 


151 


in rendering the service to my Master which 
was his due. 

“After leaving the seminary, the Rev. Donald 
Patterson went with his wife to a small church 
in the west. This was sixteen years ago. Ten 
persons united with the church at the first com- 
munion, and constituted its membership. The 
family lived in a log house containing three 
rooms. Besides his ministerial duties, Mr. Pat- 
terson attended to his horse, cut the wood, 
spaded the garden, and assisted in every pos- 
sible way. His wife, young and delicately 
brought up, did the cooking, washing and all 
the household work. Here they lived for four- 
teen years. The people were kind in their 
way, but most of them were very poor and had 
to struggle to make both ends meet. Others 
who were better off in lands or stock, were 
miserly and worked only for their own advance- 
ment. Then there is, as in many western 
towns, a floating population who, gypsy-like, 
settle in a place for a short time and then, dis- 
satisfied, ‘pull up stakes’ and try another place. 
Mr. Patterson and his wife were not persons 
who dwelt upon their trials ; the privilege of 
working for Christ was their constant theme. 
Two years ago they moved into their present 
house of six rooms, comfortable in their sense 
of the word. To anj^ one of us it would be just 


152 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

the reverse. My feelings at first were those of 
indignation that a man, so thoroughly educated 
as Mr. Patterson, was willing to sacrifice him- 
self and family in such a place, when scores 
of churches at the east, paying good salaries, 
would welcome him to their pulpits. But one 
of the lessons I learned was this, that in that 
growing country Satan’s emissaries are ever 
vigilant and industrious, and that men of strong 
minds as well as strong bodies are needed to 
cope with the immense numbers of ungodly 
men, infidels and foreigners, who are sweeping 
across the country. It is not the place to send 
weak minds and poor preachers. A man of in- 
telligence and piety is as much prized there as 
he is with us. Mr. Patterson has several 
preaching stations and three Sabbath-schools; 
these last, afford to the communities where 
they are located, the only religious privileges 
they have. The benefit he is to that part of 
the country is more than tongue can tell. To 
spend and be spent in Christ’s service is his 
life work. Can you wonder that I felt my own 
bitter sense of remissness, and that religion has 
become to me more of a reality than ever be- 
fore? for though blessed with so many oppor- 
tunities and privileges at home, I feel I have 
never prized the ordinances of grace as these 
people did, and I have come home determined 


THE MISSIONARY MEETING. 


153 


that what remains of my life shall be more de- 
voted to the interests of others. Dear sisters, 
let us be more thoroughly consecrated. Let 
‘Work for the Master’ be our watchword, and 
with our time, our talents and our substance 
may we never weary in the good work until all 
the kingdoms of this world, shall have become 
the kingdoms of our Lord.” 

Need we say that a baptism of grace came 
upon that meeting? Prayers and confessions 
from many who had been silent listeners before, 
words of penitence from some, words of hearty 
thanksgiving and encouragement from others of 
the faithful ones, whose hearts had long been 
grieved over the lukewarmness which had 
hitherto marked their efforts as a society. 

“ There are heathen at home and in our own 
city,” said a little woman, a widow named 
Brown, who had not before spoken. “ I have 
heard only to-day of a small court where fifteen 
families are living. One of my servants has an 
aunt there, probably the only decent woman 
among them. She is poor and can do but little, 
but will gladly rent a lower room if there are 
any persons willing to assist her. The men are 
generally thriftless or given to drink; the chil- 
dren are lawless aud the women are idle and 
careless. Much of the food they have I suppose 
is obtained by begging. My girl says if her 


154 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTEE. 

aunt’s house was not on the corner of the street 
she could not manage to live there. I will be 
one to engage in something for their benefit,” 
continued Mrs. Brown. 

“ I will assist you,” said Mrs. Lynn, promptly. 
“And I,” said another, until some ten ladies 
had agreed to work together for the object 
named. 

“ It is wonderful,” said the president, “ when 
our hearts are ready for work how soon the 
Lord opens the way and shows us what to do. 
I heartily endorse this project; yet my time 
and health will not permit me to engage in it 
personally, but as money will be a necessary 
adjunct, I will gladly make a contribution and 
possibly others may do the same.” Fifty dollars 
were handed to Mrs. Lynn, who made an ap- 
pointment for all who were willing to assist in 
an effort to evangelize Jones Court and vicinity 
to meet at her house the next day. 

The next afternoon, when the ten ladies had 
assembled in Mrs. Lynn’s parlor, an observer 
might easily detect that some of the enthusiasm 
of the previous day had departed, and an air of 
gravity was visible on all faces. It soon was 
known that most of them had visited Jones 
Court, to see what it was like, and to one and 
all the appearance of the street and its inmates 
proved far more discouraging than they had 


THE MISSIONARY MEETING. 


155 


anticipated. Mrs. Lynn and Mrs. Brown had 
made their visit together and ended by calling 
on Mrs. McCurdy, the Scotch woman who lived 
at the end of the street. She said to them : 
“ They seem to be a God-forsaken set, I’ll ad- 
mit ; but if anything can be done I am sure it 
is needed. And I am quite sure the way to 
reach their hearts wdll be through their bodies, 
and if you could begin by giving them a good 
meal I think they would be more likely to listen 
to what you might have to say to them.” 

Mrs. Lynn said this seemed to be a very sen- 
sible proposal, and that, if the ladies agreed 
with her, she would furnish for the first meet- 
ing, a sufficient supply of sandwiches and 
coffee, and after this was disposed of they could 
state to the women their intentions.” 

“But what are our intentions?” asked a 
dapper little woman, whose interest of the pre- 
vious day had evidently waned. “ It seems to 
me that a body of women like ourselves can do 
little in reforming such a set of wretched hu- 
manity as I saw this morning. Why, one 
woman actually insulted me when I handed 
her a tract, by telling me to light my granny’s 
pipe with it.” 

A general smile went around the room. “We 
must not be discouraged at the outset,” said 
Mrs. Lynn. “We can but try; we must re- 


156 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


member that they too have precious souls to be 
saved.” 

After considerable discussion it was decided 
that a dozen second hand chairs and a table 
should be sent to Mrs. McCurdy’s house. And 
that she should be requested to invite all the 
women of the Court the next Thursday after- 
noon to tea at five o’clock, and that they should 
be requested to make themselves as tidy as pos- 
sible. It was also decided that a quantity of 
calico and muslin should be purchased, and that 
these women should be promised as their own, 
as many garments as they chose to make for 
themselves and their families. Another good 
suggestion made was that a plain competent 
seamstress should be engaged to cut out the 
work and oversee the making of it. It was 
thought that the presence of two of the ladies 
each time, with Mrs. McCurdy and the seam- 
stress, would be sufficient, and Mrs. Lynn and 
Mrs. Brown were requested to take charge of 
the first meeting. 

The next Thursday afternoon, out of fifteen 
women in the Court ten were present. Most 
of them were ragged and some of them were 
filthy, though in each case some attempts had 
been made to improve their appearance. 

The seamstress, Mrs. Loder, had made a 
number of large calico aprons which she handed 


THE MISSIONARY MEETING. 


157 


around, and which were ample enough to con- 
ceal a good part of the skirt. Two or three 
had brought babies, and there were also some 
children of larger growth. The children were 
taken into Mrs. McCurdy’s kitchen and given 
a bowl of bread and milk. The mothers were 
first invited to sit -around the table, where a 
large sandwich and a cup of hot coffee were 
placed before them. They evidently felt the 
better for this provision. 

“ Sal Jinkins don’t know what she’s missed,”’ 
said one, “ nor Jinny Grimes either.” “Jinny 
Grimes cum home with her bottle filled this 
morning. She hadn’t a cent ; I wonder who 
filled it for her?” 

“ There’s more ways than one for gettin’ 
your bottle filled,” replied a coarse-looking 
woman with a leer. 

Mrs. Lynn’s heart sickened as she looked at 
them. “With such materials to work upon 
what can I do ? ” 

Mrs. Brown noticed her hesitation and walked 
up to the table where most of the women, hav- 
ing finished their lunch, sat back talking and 
laughing to each other. “ My good friends, 
why do you suppose we have asked you here 
to-day ? ” 

“ To give us a feed, I spect,” said one of the 
most forward of the group. 


158 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


“ A number of ladies,” continued Mrs. Brown, 
“have become interested in this neighborhood, 
because there seems to be in it so much poverty 
and so little comfort, and we have rented this 
room and intend trying to aid you in bringing 
about a better state of things. There will be a 
meeting every Thursday afternoon ; clothing 
will be cut out for you and your children which 
you can take home with you if you are willing 
to make them. No one under the influence of 
liquor will be allowed to come into this room. 
Those who desire lunch must be here at half- 
past two, or they will lose it. Each person is 
privileged to bring one child with her. Mrs. 
McCurdy and Mrs. Loder who live in the house 
will give you advice and help at anytime you 
ask for it. A piece of soap will be given each 
one on leaving this room, and I trust you will 
endeavor to put your houses in as good order as 
possible. 

“The ladies will occasionally visit your homes, 
and a reward and present will be given to 
those who succeed in improving them.” 

“ It is easy for rich folks to talk and plan,” 
said one. “ It is mighty hard for such as w^e, 
who many a time hasen’t a cent, or even a crust 
of bread till we begs it, and half the time 
has to go hungry.” 

“ Poverty is not a crime,” said Mrs. Brown, 


THE MISSIONARY MEETING. 


159 


“but dirt is. There is no excuse for that; 
water is plentiful and cheap. I would like each 
one of you when you go home to look around 
and see what you can do for yourselves to make 
things better. Some of you, I am sure, have 
had good homes in the past. I cannot bear to 
think your whole lives have been like your 
present ones.” 

A few wiped their eyes at this, and all seemed 
slightly impressed. One person put her apron 
to her eyes and sobbed. 

Mrs. Lynn had been watching this woman for 
some time. She had been sitting a good part 
of the time with her eyes cast down, and had a 
troubled countenance. Seeing her so much af- 
fected Mrs. Lynn went to her and said gently, 
“ Is there anything I can do for you ? ” 

“ Oh ! ” said the woman with another sob, 
“ Mrs. Lynn, you don’t remember me. I used 
to live with you as chambermaid. My name 
was Mary Wilson. I left your house to be 
married to Dick Warner. You advised me not 
to go with him. I was so young and giddy ! I 
was headstrong and took my own way, and here 
I am.” 

“ I remember you, Mary, very well, and I do 
hope I shall be able to put you in a better way 
of life. Is your husband living ? and have you 
any children ? ” 


160 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


She told her story. The young man she 
married was a baker and might have done well 
but they were both fond of gayety. They went 
to the theatre and caroused with other young 
people, spending the money they earned, which 
they should have laid up for a time of need. 
They drank beer because others of their com- 
panions did, and after a while Dick became fond 
of something stronger. Then he neglected his 
work and lost his situation. She saw her sin 
when it was too late. They had four children. 
She hoped Mrs. Lynn would not think her too 
bold, but she had named the youngest Jenny 
Lynn after her. “ I have her in the next room, 
ma’am, if you would like to see her.” 

Little Jenny was brought in and proved to 
be a good-looking little girl, two years of age. 

Mrs. Lynn was touched at Mary’s remem- 
brance of her, and mentally determined to ma- 
terially assist the family if possible. She told 
her to come around to her house the next day, 
and she would speak further to her about her 
affairs. 

Mrs. Loder by this time had prepared suffi- 
cient work for each one to commence upon. 
Thimbles, needles and thread were provided, 
and all began their work, but with very different 
results. The very novelty of it made it not 
uninteresting to them. Some worked expedi- 


THE MISSIONARY MEETING. 


161 


tiously and well ; others were slow and care- 
less, and preferred gossiping and watching 
their neighbors rather than attending to their 
own work. 

When the time came to close however, and 
after Mrs. Lynn had read a chapter in the Bible, 
and Mrs. Loder had made a prayer, the ladies 
agreed that they had no great reason to be dis- 
couraged with their first effort. 

We need not follow the city mission work of 
these ladies, as it was enlarged and - made more 
efficient, while it led to very happy results. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


SOWING TARES. 

rpHERE was a duty which for some time had 
been pressing upon Mr. Patterson’s mind, 
and more and more weighed upon him — the ne- 
cessity of calling upon a man and his family by 
the name of Bolton. 

Mr. Bolton had purchased the Edgar farm, 
that family having by this time become well set- 
tled in their Kansas home. 

The minister had heard something about Mr. 
Bolton from Job, who styled him a red-hot in- 
fidel and no mistake ; keen as a brier and quick 
as a steel trap.” 

“ There is nobody in these parts, parson,” 
said he, “ that kin talk to him and hold their 
own unless it’s yourself, and you’ll need to 
buckle on your armor and be well primed in 
the gospel afore you undertake him.” 

Mr. Patterson was not afraid, but well he 
knew that if the man could not be gained as a 
friend, he might as an enemy scatter broadcast 
the seeds of unbelief, so much easier to be re- 
ceived into indifferent hearts than plain, search- 
( 162 ) 


SOWING TARES. 


163 


ing gospel truths. Upon his knees he poured 
out his case before the Lord, invoking the 
divine strength which had never failed him ; 
and strong in Jehovah and in the power of his 
might, he went forth like David to meet the 
giant of error. 

When he reached the house a woman came 
to the door in answer to his knock and cordially 
invited him to enter. She had a pleasant 
countenance, was. neat in her appearance, and 
the apartment into which she showed him gave 
evidence of thrifty and careful housekeeping. 
She informed him that her husband was not at 
home but would likely be in soon, and added, 
“ If I mistake not, you are the preacher in this 
part of the country.” 

“ I am a minister, and my name is Patter, 
son,” he answered ; “ but I do not think I have 
seen you at any of my meetings.” 

“No,” she said, half hesitating. “We do 
not go to any church ; our belief is different, 
I suppose, from that of most of the people about 
here. I used to go to church more or less be- 
fore I was married, but after that, when I 
found what John’s opinions were, it was easy 
for me to accept them, for I found them sensi- 
ble. John is no fool ; he has made a study of 
these things, and has read more books on the 
subject than I could count. He is not one to be 


164 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


imposed upon, and I have never seen any rea- 
son to change my views. But we are not un- 
neighborly ; we don’t quarrel with other peo- 
ple’s notions, and we expect them to treat us 
the same way. John, of course, argues now and 
then on religious questions, he is so sure of his 
own doctrines; but he gives every body fair 
play, and if they can beat him in argument, it 
is all right.” 

The entrance of a young girl into the room 
prevented a reply. “My daughter, Esther,” 
said the mother. 

The girl was about fourteen years of age. 
Mr. Patterson was struck with her appearance ; 
very fair and delicate looking, with earnest 
blue eyes and golden hair clustering in rings 
about her head. 

“I have seen you passing the house, and 
your daughter too, several times,” she said with 
a smile full of friendship, as she held out her 
hand to the visitor. 

He took it cordially. “ Helen misses very 
much the friend who used to live in this house. 
“ I hope you will let her visit us,” turning to 
the mother. “ I presume you would not care 
to let her come to our Sunday-school.” 

“ No,” her father objects to that. “ She is 
very anxious to go on account of the singing. 
She is extravagantly fond of music, and spends 


SOWING TARES. 


165 


a great deal of her time in singing. We stopped 
outside of the schoolhouse awhile last Sunday 
as we were out walking, and I could scarcely 
get her past the house, she was so taken with 
the singing. She picked up a paper outside that 
had part of a verse on it, and she has been 
singing it all the week. Her father says it will 
not do her any more harm than a bit of Mother 
Goose’s rhymes.” 

“ Will you let me see it ? ” he asked. 

Esther brought the paper, and the minister 
read it aloud. It was the third verse of the 
hymn, 


“ Tell me the story softly, 

With earnest tones and grave ; 

Remember, I’m the sinner 
Whom Jesus came to save. 

Tell me that story always. 

If you would really be. 

In any time of trouble, 

A comforter to me. 

Tell me the old, old story,” etc. 

Esther looked imploringly at her mother, who 
smiled, as she said, “ She would like you to 
sing it over for her if you do not mind. She 
is not sure that she has one part of it quite 
right.” 

“ Certainly,” he said, and at once sang it 
through. 


166 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


“Now Esther, come and sing it with me; you 
will then learn it quite easily for it is a very 
simple tune.” 

She complied, and as the clear voice of the 
girl rang out in the chorus, the door opened 
and Mr. Bolton stood gazing at the scene be- 
fore him, an angry look of amazement upon his 
face. 

“ Well really! ” he said, “ we appear to be 
having a free concert.” 

Mr. Patterson went forward : “ I have been 

helping your daughter to a tune she wanted to 
catch. She has an uncommon voice for one so 
young ; it is so true and strong it should be 
cultivated.” 

The father’s features relaxed : praise of his 
child could always disarm him. 

“Yes, she has a voice and comes by it natur- 
ally. She not only has her grandmother’s name 
and looks but her voice as well.” 

“ She gets it from you, John, as well as your 
mother,” responded the wife. “It would do 
you good sir, to hear them sing some of their 
pretty Scotch songs together.” 

“ I shall sincerely hope to hear them some- 
time ; I am particularly partial to Scotch songs. 
My daughter and I sing a number of them. 
You must all come over to our house and we 
will try them together.” 


SOWING TAKES. 


167 


A few commonplace remarks about the coun- 
try, its adaptability for farming and some points 
of interest drawn from the minister's own ex- 
perience and observation terminated the inter- 
view. Mr. Patterson wished to disarm preju- 
dice as well as to let the family see that he 
came not in a controversial spirit but with gen- 
uine good will toward them. Telling them that 
his wife and daughter would soon call to see 
them, he bade them a friendly good-by. 

“ They have built up a strong wall of de- 
fence,” he said, as he told his wife the circum- 
stances of his visit ; “ but my heart yearns over 
them. What a help they might be to our 
cause ! They are intelligent and energetic, 
and, just the kind of people to aid me in giving 
an impetus to all good work in the neighbor- 
hood if I could win them for Christ. I am es- 
pecially drawn toward their daughter Esther. 
There is something angelic in her face. I can- 
not but think that Providence placed that leaf 
in her way that it might be a silent messenger 
of grace to her heart ; and then her voice — so 
tender and true and sweet ! ” 

“ Is anything too hard for the Lord ? ” said 
his wife. “ It may be that the dear child may 
be the means of leading her parents to Christ.” 
“ God grant it ! ” was the response. 

Esther was loud in her praises of their new 


168 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTEK. 


acquaintance. “ Yes, he seems to be a gentle- 
man,” said Mrs. Bolton, “and not one of those 
red-hot revival preachers who as soon as they 
see you consign you to a place of torment, like 
that one in C before we came here.” 

“ He is no doubt just as arbitrary as any of 
them,” remarked her husband, “ He has tact, 
and in that many of these so-called preachers 
are lacking. We shall most likely have a set to 
before many weeks, but I’m not afraid of him ; 
don’t believe what I can’t prove, and that is 
more than this Patterson and others like him 
can say.” 

Some time after this Mr. Patterson on going 
to the post-office found the room full of loung- 
ers, while he recognized the voice of the person 
who was speaking to be that of Mr. Bolton. 
He stood by the door unseen by the speakers. 
Most of the auditors looked cowed but one 
plucky little Scotchman, Sandy McPherson by 
name, replied after a moment’s silence ; 

“ You may say what you please, you may say 
that our God is not a God of love or he would 
not affiict his people. There may be saints on 
the earth but I’ve ne’er exactly seen the likes 
of one; my old mother came the nearest to 
any. I know, as far as my ain sel’ is concerned, 
I’ve ne’er deserved the ha’pence of the mercies 
I liae received. Why, mon, do you only drive 


SOWING TABES. 


169 


your beast on pleasant days ? If he balks, or 
is stubborn, don’t ye beat him ? Don’t we pun- 
ish our children, when they deserve it ? Don’t 
a man believe he can do what he likes with his 
own ; and hasn’t the Lord the right to do what 
he pleases with the creatures he has made ? ” 

“ How do you know he made them ? ” said 
his opposer, with a cynical smile. 

“ When you see a batch of new baked bread 
on your kitchen- table, I reckon you dinna think 
it came there by chance, do you ? If your wife 
did na make it, you conclude somebody else 
did. Who makes each seed we plant bring 
forth its kind from year to year ? Who keeps 
the sun, moon and stars in their places? If 
you say they go on by themselves who started 
them in the first place ? ’Twas God, and no- 
body else, your maker and mine. Isn’t that so. 
Dominie?” turning to the minister, whom he 
saw for the first time. 

“ It is true a design implies a designer,” re- 
plied Mr. Patterson coming forward; “if we 
do not think earthly things can come into ex- 
istence by chance, how unreasonable to believe 
that the heavenly bodies came into existence 
without thoughts of order and design some- 
where ; ” and turning to Mr. Bolton, he added, 
“ As you acknowledge there is good and evil in 
the world, the business of every one, Christian 


170 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


or not, who has the good of his fellow beings at 
heart, is to help the one and fight the other as 
long as his powers of reason and action are con- 
tinued to him.” 

“ I could never believe in Christianity as long 
as there are such rogues among its followers,” 
replied Mr. Bolton. “Look at the long list of 
forgers and bank thieves who have been mem- 
bers of the church.” 

“ 1 have never seen a long list such as you 
speak of,” said Mr. Patterson kindly, “ but sup- 
pose a long one could be made out, it would 
look very small along side of the list of Chris- 
tian men and w^omen who have been workers 
for mankind, sincere helpers lifting them up in 
a thousand different ways. 1 might stand here 
for hours telling these friends what Christianity 
has done for the world. No wonder if there 
should be false professors, no army has ever 
marched to victory without a few to fall out of 
it by way of the rear. By expecting church 
professors to be consistent members, you admit 
the religion they profess to be holy. Who ever 
heard that any one is surprised when an infidel 
steps aside from the paths of morality ? Many 
infidels indeed reject religion because their 
judgments are influenced by depraved wishes. 
Often to maintain a wrong manner of living a 
man renounces Christianity; he imagines by so 


SOWING TARES. 


171 


doing he casts off restraint and responsibility. 
I do not, however, class all unbelievers with 
such. There are men of strong minds who be- 
cause they cannot reconcile all that they hear 
or read in the Bible with our limited powers of 
understanding reject the whole. They place 
our finite minds along side the infinite, and be- 
cause they are unable to comprehend omnis- 
cience they at once deny the whole theory of 
religion and consider the matter settled. As 
well might the infant shake his fist at the col- 
lege professor because to his uninformed mind 
Latin and Greek are simply nonsense. I have 
great hope for a man who is open to conviction, 
who is an honest seeker after the truth. To 
him, if he perseveres, light will come. The 
real difference between Christianity and infi- 
delity is this : the Christian has a faith to rest 
upon which he has inwardly tested and found 
sure ; the other has nothing of the kind. A 
skeptic unsettles everything; he settles noth- 
ing. He attempts to pull down Christianity, 
but he offers nothing in its stead. 

“ Infidelity is doubly cruel to those who lose 
dear friends. The verdict it renders is, their 
bodies can never rise again ; they die as the 
beasts die. But the gospel of Jesus Christ 
with loving tenderness says ‘Weep not; they 
sleep till the day of waking comes, and their 


172 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


souls now inherit eternal life.’ Tell me, what 
can unbelief do for such in the hour of afflic- 
tion and death ? Where then can they look for 
comfort and support ? 

“ Is it reasonable to suppose that our minds 
are given us to improve for this short life only, 
and are the wonders of the natural world about 
which our conceptions are so faint and unsatis- 
factory never to be unfolded to us any further ? 
It looks to me, my friends, if in this life only 
we have hope, we are miserable creatures and 
life is hardly worth living. However, I did not 
anticipate preaching a sermon when I came ; I 
must do my errand and hasten home. Mr. 
Bolton, if you will accept a seat with me, it 
will give me pleasure to have you ride with 
me.” 

Mr. Bolton hesitated a moment. If he re- 
fused it might look to the men standing about 
as if he was afraid. 

“ Thank you,” he said, “ I will,” and they 
drove off together. 

“ The unbeliever has met his match,” said the 
Scotchman. “It is my opinion the Dominie 
has the best of him, and if he dinna bring him 
around it can’t be done.” 

Mr. Patterson knew better than to continue 
the conversation. He asked after Mrs. Bolton, 
and again expressed his admiration of his little 


SOWING TARES. 


173 


daughter, both of her pleasing manners and 
beautiful voice. 

The father’s voice showed feeling as he said, 
“ She is indeed a precious treasure to us, our 
only child. Her health has not been as robust 
as we would like ; she is better now than she 
was last year.” 

“ Come to our house this evening and let us 
have some music,” urged Mr. Patterson. 
“Bring your favorite pieces along with you, 
and my daughter and I will reciprocate.” 

Mr. Bolton was won in spite of himself. “ I 
think you may depend upon our coming,” said 
he, and added, “ however we may differ on re- 
ligious matters, I think music is a common 
ground upon which we can all agree.” 

“ I am quite sure of it,” responded Mr. Pat- 
terson. 


CHAPTER XV. 


LEAVEN. 

W HILE the social intercourse between the 
two families was all that could be de- 
sired, Mr. Patterson had not been able to affect 
any change in Mr. Bolton’s religious views. It 
even seemed as if the man was more determined 
than ever to promulgate his infidel doctrines. 
In store or tavern, or wherever he found men 
together, the conversation generally drifted in 
the one direction. 

He was a ready talker, and the simple-minded 
people could not contend with the artful and 
clever reasoning they encountered, and little by 
little one and another began to feel some doubt 
and insecurity in their Christian profession, and 
a spirit of uncertainty began to brood over 
many minds. 

Nevertheless a leaven was working in this 
man’s home that he knew not of, for the spirit 
of divine truth was finding an entrance into the 
heart of his only child. Not by argument or 
studied teaching was she won, but by the blessed 
Spirit, which like the wind blowing where it 
( 174 ) 


LEAVEN. 175 

listeth, had quietly brought there the beginning 
of a new life. 

Esther had become so fond of Helen Patter- 
son that her parents could not resist their child’s 
desire for frequent intercourse, particularly 
when they saw how greatly she was improved 
by associating with this intelligent family. 

The same advantage offered by Mr. Patter- 
son to Annie Edgar was given to Esther, and 
her eagerness for learning delighted them all. 
Her musical abilities were also cultivated and 
her voice enriched by practice, and good teach- 
ing became a source of the greatest pleasure to 
her friends. Occasionally, if the weather was 
stormy, she was allowed to pass the night with 
Helen. 

While nothing was said to her on the subject 
of religion, in accordance with Mr. Patterson’s 
promise to her father, the habits of the house- 
hold were not altered, and family worship was 
observed as usual both morning and evening. 

The first time Esther was present she’ re- 
mained sitting erect upon her chair ; the second 
time yielding to an impulse she could not ac- 
count for, she kneeled by the side of Helen. 

Mr. Patterson prayed for each one of them, 
and for the young stranger providentially with 
them, that she might, in the morning of her 
days, be brought to a knowledge of the Saviour, 


176 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

and consecrate to him her life, her talents and 
all she possessed. Esther mentioned the cir- 
cumstance to her mother, and asked whether 
she had ever known of such a thing being done 
by any one else. 

‘‘ Oh, yes,” said she, “ it is common among 
people who think as he does. I do hope noth- 
ing will happen to make it needful to stop your 
going there, now that you are learning so fast. 
You have never had such a chance before. You 
need not say anything to your father about this, 
but when you are there, and such things are go- 
ing on, if you can’t get out of the way of it, 
you must just let it go in one ear and out of the 
other ; think, as your father would say, that it 
is a multitude of words without sense or mean- 
ing.” 

Learning that they never argued with her on 
the subject of religion, the mother allowed the 
matter to pass from her mind. 

Esther had seen Helen from time to time 
kneel down at her bedside. She watched her 
curiously but said nothing. One evening, how- 
ever, after Helen had put out the light she 
asked rather timidly, “Would you mind telling 
me, Helen, what you do when you are on your 
knees ? ” 

“ I pray to my dear heavenly Father, to thank 
him for taking care of me through another day, 


LEAVEN. 


177 


and to ask his protection for another night. 
Then I ask his forgiveness for the sins I have 
committed, and tell him I wish I may grow 
more and more like him, so that when I die I 
may go to live with him forever.” 

“ I don’t like to think about dying,” said 
Esther, after a pause. “ Do you ? ” 

“ I used to be frightened when I thought of 
death, but not so much now ; for now, I know 
my sins are forgiven, and that when I leave this 
world it will be to live forever with my dear 
Saviour.” 

Esther would have said more, but she was 
trespassing on forbidden ground. She refrained, 
only leaning over to give Helen a goodnight 
kiss with more than usual warmth. As she 
rested, her mind dwelt on the words of the leaf 
she had picked up : 

“ Tell me the story softly, 

With earnest tones and grave ; 

Remember I’m the sinner 
Whom Jesus came to save.” 

In Mr. Bolton’s house there was an old red 
chest that stood in a small unused room, filled 
with reminders of other days, and here Esther 
was sent one morning by her mother, to search 
for a bit of merino to be used in making her a 
hood. It was Esther’s delight to watch her 
12 


178 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


mother when she opened this chest, but never 
before had she opened it by herself. Receiving 
permission to see all that was in it if she chose, 
she began with great glee to take out all the 
bundles carefully, one at a time. 

The old dresses, the clothes she had worn 
when a baby, a little suit and pair of shoes 
which had belonged to the little brother who 
had died before she was born, pieces of silk 
and chintz and lace, she examined with the 
greatest pleasure. 

At the bottom of the chest wrapped about 
with a piece of cloth was something hard and 
heavy. On opening it she found a large square 
book with pictures in it. This was indeed a 
treasure. Carefully replacing the other articles 
in the chest she sat down to enjoy her prize. 
When she opened it again she saw the name 
“ Holy Bible ” on the first page, and knew that 
this was the book from which Mr. Patterson 
read. She turned over leaf after leaf — the 
pictures making but little impression until she 
came to the New Testament where the picture 
of Christ blessing little children attracted her 
attention. She turned to the opposite page 
and read the account. Then she looked at the 
picture again. This was the Saviour to whom 
Helen prayed. He loved young people ; he did 
not turn even the little children away. ‘‘I 


XiEAVEN. 


179 


wish,” she said in a yearning tone, “01 wish 
that he would love me ! ” 

“ Who is it, my darling, that does not love 
you ? ” 

Esther started ; her father was standing at 
the door. He had been there watching her for 
some minutes, and his heart had felt very heavy 
as he watched his only child. He had to admit 
to himself that she was growing thinner ; how 
plainly the blue veins could be seen on neck 
and brow. He repeated, “ Who is it, pet, that 
does not love you ? ” 

Her face flushed but she looked directly at 
him. “ Mother gave me leave to look at the 
things in the chest, and I found this book, and 
like this picture so much. It is the Saviour 
blessing little children.” 

He came near to look at it. 

“ The old Bible, I declare ! I had almost 
forgotten that we owned one. This book was 
my mother’s, and when I was a little lad I used 
to beg for it every Sunday. I suppose I then 
believed every thing in it. When I grew older 
I found it a mass of fables and contradictions. 
It is strange what store some people set by it. 
This has your grandmother’s name in it, and 
by rights should be yours, would you like to 
own it ? ” 

“ O father if I might ! ” she cried, her face 


180 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTER. 


lighting up. “I would rather have it than any- 
thing else you could give me.” 

Surprised at such warmth he said, “ the pic- 
tures are not particularly good, yet I suppose 
they will amuse you, especially the one where 
the man with a log of wood in his eye is berating 
the man with a mote in his ; but you have not 
told me yet who it is that you want to love you. 
I did not suppose a robin like you had any ene- 
mies. I thought every one loved you.” 

The color rose in her face ; the eyes looked 
beseechingly into his as she hesitatingly said, 
“It was Jesus I wanted to love me. He took 
the little children in his arms and blessed them 
and said, ‘ Suffer the ’ ” 

“ Never mind ; we have had enough of this,” 
in a voice colder than he had ever used in ad- 
dressing her. “ This Jesus that you read about, 
if he ever lived was nothing but a man, a good 
man if you please ; he could not do any more 
for you if he was here than many another man, 
— not half so much as your own father is ready 
and willing to do for you.” 

“ I would like him to save me from my sins — ” 
she stammered again. 

“ Your what ? ” he sternly asked. “ Who’s 
been talking to you ? That is what I get by 
letting you go to Patterson’s. Don’t ask for 
permission to go there again. I’ll stop their 


LEAVEN. 


181 


meddling, for I don't mean to have you worried 
over any of their nonsense.” 

Esther was frightened, but she was loyal to 
her friends. 

“ They never said a word to me, father. I 
heard Mr. Patterson read the Bible and pray, 
but he did not speak to me about it. It was 
my little verse that said, ‘ Remember I’m the 
sinner whom Jesus came to save.’ ” 

It was quite evident to Mr. Bolton that the 
child’s mind was full of a subject which he 
was quite determined should be rooted out of 
her thoughts. 

Wisely concluding the less agitation on the 
subject the better at present, he said, “ On sec- 
ond thoughts I guess I will put this book away 
in its old place. When you are older, you will 
know how to separate the true history from the 
false, and your mind will not be disturbed by 
anything you may read in it.” 

She made no reply but gave a sigh as she saw 
the old Bible covered up again in the bottom 
of the chest, and the lid shut down and 
locked. 

If he saw her disappointment he betrayed 
no sign. “ Now put on your cap and shawl ; I 
am going to drive mother and you up to the tav- 
ern. A menagerie is to pass through Cedar 
Run on its way west, and you will see a live 


182 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


elephant or two, and perhaps a lion or tiger 
peeping through the bars of their cages. The 
men will feed the animals, and they have two 
cart loads of meat ready for them. Then there 
are beautiful horses and little ponies, and it will 
do you good to see them.” 

Esther was but a child and her eyes bright- 
ened at the thought of the novel entertain- 
ment, and she quickly made herself ready for 
the promised treat. 

Mr. Bolton related to his wife that evening 
an account of his interview with Esther, and 
said that intercourse with the Patterson family 
must be stopped at once, at least so far as al- 
lowing Esther to go to their house. 

The mother tried to intercede, saying the 
separation would nearly break her heart, and 
that surely he could explain away every wrong 
impression she might get, and that not going to 
Mr. Patterson’s meant that her lessons and 
music must stop just when she was making so 
much progress. But it was of no avail ; the 
father was determined. 

The next morning when Esther began to 
make some preparation, the father having taken 
himself out of the way, the mother was obliged 
to say, “ My dear, you are not going to Mr. 
Patterson’s ; father does not wish it.” 

She made no remonstrance but quietly put 


LEAVEN. 


183 


her things away. Her heart was full, and 
throwing her arms about her mother’s neck she 
sobbed violently. 

The mother stroked her curls, petting and 
caressing her. Don’t, dearie ; this will make 
you sick, and father will not like it.” But the 
child could not be comforted until the click of 
the gate announced a visitor. 

“ Run pet, and wash your eyes, it is Helen 
Patterson.” 

“We were afraid Esther was sick as she did 
not come for her lesson. Mother remarked 
yesterday, she was not looking well.” 

“ She looks thin, but I do not think she is 
sick,” replied Mrs. Bolton anxiously, unwilling 
that others should observe what was becoming 
more and more apparent to herself and hus- 
band. 

“ It is best for me to be frank,” said she, 
and she told Helen of Mr. Bolton’s decision, 
and his reasons for it. “ You don’t know how 
sorry I am it has happened ; not that I think 
you are to blame exactly, for Esther told her 
father you did not argue with her on the sub- 
ject at all. We should have known better than 
to send her much from liome until her mind 
v/as settled. She is not strong anyway, and a 
rest from study will not hurt her. Why do 


184 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

you know that child is making herself unhappy 
because she thinks she is a sinner ! ” 

Helen’s heart gave a throb of gratitude. 

“ Poor little dear ! ’* continued the mother, 
“ and you know as well as I, that if ever there 
was an angel on earth she is one. She never 
did a wrong thing in her life. She is too good, 
and I am only afraid sometimes,” the tears 
coming in her eyes, “ we shall not be able to 
keep her, but we can’t have her worry, and we 
will try to divert her mind the best we can. 
Just as soon as he sells his grain her father 
means to buy her a little organ, if he can get a 
good one second-hand.” 

“ Perhaps,” said Helen abruptly, “ you would 
rather I did not come here any more ? ” 

“ I think my dear, it would be better you did 
not, for a while, at any rate.” 

Esther now came in with a piece of music 
belonging to Helen, her lips quivering as she 
kissed her, but she did not trust herself to 
speak. 

Helen rose to go, she bade Mrs. Bolton good 
morning, but could not restrain her own tears 
as she bade Esther good-by. 

“ Pray for me,” whispered the child. Helen 
gave her a kiss and look of assent, and re- 
turned home heavy-hearted to tell to the sym- 
pathetic household what had occurred. 


LEAVEN. 


185 . 


“ I traly believe,” said Mr. Patterson, “ that 
the Lord is dealing with the child. The way 
now looks dark, but Christ is stronger than his 
enemies. Of his own he says, ‘ neither shall 
any pluck them out of his hands.’ ” 


CHAPTER XVL 


ESTHER. 

I T was soon made evident to all, by the fitful 
flush upon her cheek and the harassing 
cough, that Esther’s time on earth was limited. 
Her decline was gradual but sure. Her beauti- 
ful character was exemplified in the patient en- 
durance of suffering and generous thoughtful- 
ness for her parents. For their sake she was 
always cheerful, and as long as her health would 
permit she exerted herself to keep about the 
house, occupy her accustomed seat at the table, 
and perform her usual household duties. Then 
one thing after another was given up and most 
of the day was spent upon the lounge. She 
always greeted her father with a smile upon his 
entrance, and he would often exclaim, “ You 
are the picture of health to-day ; your cheeks 
are rosy and your eyes are bright as a bead. 
Don’t you feel better ? ” 

She would in return give him a wistful look. 
“ I don’t feel any stronger, father.” 

“Is there anything I can do for you?” he 
asked one day; “anything you want?” 

( 186 ) 


ESTHER. 


187 


She hesitated ; “ I would like — if I could — 
to see Mr. and Mrs. Patterson and Helen,” 
then noticing his grave face, “ but not unless 
you are quite willing, father dear; I am some- 
times a little lonely when mother is busy, and 
it tires me to read very much at a time.” 

“ I will stop and tell Helen you want to see 
her, as I pass,” he answered ; and he felt repaid 
for his concession by her happy face. 

“ Thank you, father dear ; let me kiss you 
for that,” and she threw her arms around his 
neck. 

“ Is it possible she has been hurting herself 
by grieving after these people ? ” he wondered. 
“It can’t hurt her to see them for a week or 
two, and as soon as she is better I will try to 
rent out the farm for six months or a year, and 
go back east for awhile.” 

His reception at the .parsonage was most cor- 
dial. There was not the least indication in 
their manner that they had felt hurt by the 
treatment they had received. 

“ Esther is better to-day,” he said, in answer 
to Mrs. Patterson’s inquiries ; “ I think she is 
on the mend now. She would like to have a 
visit from Miss Helen, and the rest of you, 
too,” he added, “ if you feel like coming.” 

Mr. Patterson called with Plelen that very 
afternoon. He did not remain, but wanted to 


188 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


judge for himself if there was any improve- 
ment. 

Helen was deceived by Esther’s bright face. 
Not so her father. The bright eye and hectic 
flush too certainly betrayed the presence of the 
fell disease, consumption. He was anxious to 
know her state of mind, and was wondering 
how he could approach her on the subject of 
religion, when she anticipated him. Helen had 
no sooner gone into the kitchen to speak to 
Mrs. Bolton, than Esther said hurriedly, “ I am 
not getting any better, Mr. Patterson, though 
my father and mother hope so. I am growing 
weaker every day. But I am not afraid to die, 
for I know Jesus will save me.” 

He questioned her a little and was struck 
with the full surrender she had made. She had 
no doubts or fears ; to her, Christ was a reality, 
and he had promised to save her. 

“My dear little girl,” said Mr. Patterson, 
“ you have chosen the good part that can never 
be taken from you. Think much of the dear 
Saviour ; he will never forsake you. Ask his 
help at all times, and he will give it to you.” 

“My dear father will feel it most. Pray, 
dear Mr. Patterson, that Jesus may comfort 
him. He will not know how to do without his 
little girl,” and her quivering lips showed how 
deeply she felt for him. 


ESTHER. 


189 


“I thank God already that he has heard my 
daily prayer, that a blessing might come to this 
household,” said the minister, “ and having be- 
gun a good work I am sure he will carry it on.” 
As he left the house he could but utter the 
sacred words, “ Lord, out of the mouth of babes 
hast thou perfected praise.” 

Helen spent every moment she could spare 
with the sick girl, and Mr. and Mrs. Patterson 
were unremitting in their attentions. Their 
coming gave such evident pleasure to Esther 
that the parents could not object. The eyes 
of both of them were being gradually opened 
to the sad truth that their child was slowly 
drifting away from them. 

From the time that she was confined entirely 
to her bed her father seldom left the house, 
though frequently he would leave the room for 
a time, being unable to control his emotions. 
Sometimes outside of the sick-room his feelings 
would break forth in angry and vehement lan- 
guage, now railing at the ignorance and insuffi- 
ciency of physicians, then at the power, what- 
ever it was, who could rob him of his child, 
and take from him the greatest treasure he pos- 
sessed. Mr. Patterson did not attempt to argue 
with him — he did all that he could to soothe 
and comfort him. 

In the sick-room all was peace. Pale as a 


190 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

lily Esther lay upon the bed, the breath grow- 
ing fainter and more labored, but her smile and 
manner were a constant assurance to her friends 
that “ perfect love had cast out all fear.” 

Her father and mother scarcely ever left her 
now. Jerusha and Mrs. Stetzer took turns in 
preparing the meals, so that Mrs. Bolton might 
remain by her child’s bedside without interrup- 
tion. 

“Father,” the voice was very faint. 

“Yes, dearie,” he replied, leaning over her. 

“Father, you know how much I love you 
and mother, but I love my Saviour too, and I 
am going to be with him forever. I want you 
both to come too. I have asked Jesus to show 
you the way, and the time will not be long be- 
fore we may be united never to be separated 
again. Won’t you promise me, father?” 

By a great effort he restrained himself. 
“Don’t tire yourself by talking, my darling; 
let me give you some wine whey.” 

She did not speak again at that time, but the 
imploring look she gave Mr. Patterson, so ex- 
pressive of desire and need of help, he under- 
stood to mean that he should in every way pos- 
sible labor for her parents’ conversion. He 
smiled at her and silently bowed. 

It was not until the sweet face wore the hue 
of death that the parents, turning from all sym- 


ESTHER. 


191 


pathy, refused to be comforted. In all the wide 
world there was nothing, nor any one, able to 
bring balm to their rebellious and broken hearts. 
Three days passed and all that was mortal of 
little Esther was laid in the tomb. 

Pale and haggard Mr. Bolton woke up to the 
thought that life must be lived, though the 
light of his eyes had been taken away. His 
wife, of milder temperament, forced herself to 
accept the situation, and she really was sur- 
prised that a person so strong-minded as her 
husband should show himself to be so weak and 
helpless. She supposed he would be able to 
help her to bear the burden, but she had to ex- 
ert herself to comfort him. But when he arose 
from breakfast scarcely taking a mouthful, and 
putting on his hat almost staggered from the 
door, she called after him, “ John, when are you 
coming back ? ” 

“ I don’t know.” 

“ Promise you will be in for dinner, or I will 
go with you.” 

“Well — yes,” he said, and she watched him 
going in the direction of the woods. 

It mattered not to what he turned his atten- 
tion, the dead face of his darling ever appeared, 
and the agony of his desolation weighed him 
down to such a degree that mind and body 
seemed likely to give way. And now much of 


192 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

his time was spent in the solitude of the woods, 
where, away from human sight, he could strug- 
gle with his feelings, with none to comment 
upon his moods. 

For his poor wife suffering not less than he, 
this was a most trying time. 

The anxiety she felt for her husband, and her 
efforts to do something to bring comfort to him, 
was beneficial in some degree in turning her 
mind from their mutual sorrow. She endeav- 
ored to beguile his appetite by cooking his 
favorite dishes, but often meal times would 
pass without his appearing, and when he came 
it mattered little what was set before him. 

It was not strange that Mrs. Bolton, thus left 
to herself and often dwelling on the virtues 
of her lost child, should ponder over Esther’s 
character and words. It was on opening a 
drawer which contained some of Esther’s treas- 
ures, that she saw the torn piece of paper con- 
taining the verse that Esther had picked up 
in front of the Sunday-school room, the words 
of which had been so often on her lips, and 
which she had accepted so completely as her 
own experience. 

The tears flowed from Mrs. Bolton’s eyes as 
she read it, and the natural inquiry forced it- 
self upon her mind, “ If that child thought 
herself such a sinner, what am I ? ” She re- 


ESTHER. 


193 


membered, too, on one of the last days of her 
life, Esther looking up and seeing her in tears 
had whispered, “ Mother, dear, read Grandma 
Bolton’s Bible; it will comfort you.” 

The remembrance of these words came to 
her for the first time, and with a sudden im- 
pulse she went to the chest, took out the Bi- 
ble, brought it to the sitting-room, and laid it 
on the table. She drew up her rocking-chair 
and opened the book where Esther’s own 
hands had placed the ribbon marker. Almost 
the first words lighted upon were these : “ Let 
not your heart be trembled : ye believe in God, 
believe also in me. In my Father’s house are 
many mansions: if it were not so, I would have 
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I 
will come again, and receive you unto myself ; 
that where I am, there ye may be also.” She did 
not understand the real significance of the 
words, but took it as a direct message from the 
child herself. 

“ She wanted us to come to her. Oh, if there 
is a place where we can meet again what would 
I not give to find it ? ” Again she read aloud : 
“How can we- know the way? Jesus saith 
unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life : 
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” 

The Bible continued to lie on the table un- 
13 


194 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


disturbed. Whether Mr. Bolton saw it or not 
he made no remark about it, and again and 
again in liis absence his wife referred to its 
pages, feeling at first as if the very act of do- 
ing so brought her into communion with her 
child. The Holy Spirit softened her heart and 
inclined her to dwell upon the truths she read. 
She constantly came across verses she had heard 
and learned when a child. She remembered 
her father’s prayers, so fervent as he prayed for 
his children, and she well remembered his 
peaceful death. Little by little the truth, im- 
pressed by the Holy Spirit, came into her 
mind, and the peace of God came and com- 
forted her sorrowing heart. 

Knowing the strength of her husband’s prej- 
udices she did not wish to arouse them by tell- 
ing him of her present experience. She was 
afraid lest by argument and satire he would 
endeavor to undermine her belief which became 
more precious to her each day, and her daily 
prayer was that she might be kept steadfast 
and that her husband might be brought to the 
light. 

It was in this spirit that Mr. Patterson found 
her when he made a morning call. 

The hunible and peaceful expression of her 
countenance so unlike her former rebellious 
look, would have indicated a change in her 


ESTHER. 


195 


feelings, even if she had not at once, with the 
warm clasp of her hand, exclaimed, “ Mr. Pat- 
terson, I have found the Saviour ! My child 
did not die in vain ; her blessed example has 
been the means of saving my soul.” 

“ Thank God,” said the minister, “ let us 
kneel and praise him for his wonderful grace.” 

It was during this prayer that Mr. Bolton 
drawing near to the back door of his dwel- 
ling heard the fervent appeal made in his own 
behalf. 

He heard the prayer that the Lord would 
lighten his sorrow by disclosing to him his own 
wonderful love, and by converting his soul, give 
him the hope of a glorious resurrection, when 
he might rejoin his loved one in the mansions 
of the blest for all eternity. 

Having refused all previous tokens of sym- 
pathy, these words moved the hearer far more 
than anything else had done. 

There was an inward craving for something 
that might break the heavy strain which was 
upon him. He went out to the barn, climbed 
into the hay loft, and there, prone upon the 
straw, he wept such tears as a strong man sel- 
dom sheds. 

An hour later he came into the sitting room 
through the kitchen. His wife was sitting at 
the table with the open Bible before her, her 


196 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

face composed and peaceful. She raised her 
eyes at the sound of his footsteps. 

“ You are ill, John,” and, rising hurriedly, 
she went toward him. He caught her hand 
and said in broken tones, “ Mary, if you have 
found peace, give some of it to me, or I shall 
die.” 

She threw her arms about his neck and wept 
upon his breast, then drew him forward to the 
large chair she had vacated and sitting near 
him told him of her sorrow and blessed relief. 
“ It was this,” turning to the fourteenth chap- 
ter of John, “that first came to me as a message 
from our darling.” 

He gave no sign of approval or dissent as she 
read it but lay back with closed eyes, like one 
who having been engaged in a fearful struggle 
had been vanquished, and been forced to yield 
to a power he could no longer resist. His heart, 
harder than a rock and shielded as it was by 
pride and self-will, had been smitten, pene- 
trated by the unerring shaft of the Holy Spirit. 
He felt himself to be a sinner under condem- 
nation without hope. One who had known 
this man months before, would scarcely recog- 
nize him now. 

It was generally thought by his neighbors 
that Mr. Bolton could not last long in his pres- 
ent state, and that derangement would probably 


ESTHER. 


197 


end his life. No one therefore was surprised 
to hear that he was confined to bed, and that 
his condition was pronounced critical by his 
physician. 

Mr. Patterson spent much time at the bed- 
side daily, reading portions of Scripture and 
offering prayer, Mr. Bolton making no objec- 
tion. 

Then came an evening when his life hung in 
the balance, when in suspense and trembling 
the anxious watchers waited expecting each 
breath would be the last. The pastor wrestled 
in prayer for the life of this man that he might 
live to show forth God’s glory and converting 
power in the eyes of the world. The prayer 
was answered and, like Saul of Tarsus, the un- 
believer acknowledged his Master, and humbly 
inquired, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to 
do?” 

It had been his work for years to strengthen 
his own doctrines and build up a structure of 
unbelief that could not be broken down. In 
one moment it had fallen. Now the evil theory 
he had advocated stung him like a serpent. 
What was his beautiful child ? A senseless 
clod ? Yet according to his teachings this would 
be the case. But her last words, “ Meet me in 
heaven, father,” never left him until he was 


198 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


able fully and unreservedly to answer, “ By 
God’s grace, I will ! ” 

It was as the minister had said, such a man 
won for Christ was a victory indeed. There 
were no half measures about him. His books 
and manuscripts, once so treasured, were burnt. 
The members of the prayer meeting heard his 
humble confession and his determination to 
strive by precept and practice to undo the evil 
of his former teachings, and he called upon 
those who had been in any way tainted by his 
doctrines to hear the avowal of their utter un- 
worthiness and insufficiency in the hour of 
death. This was the beginning of a blessed re- 
vival, and the church of Cedar Run received a 
new baptism of grace which brought down on 
minister and people a generous blessing of en- 
couragement and strengthening. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


TEYING HER WINGS. 

T he extension of the railroad to Cedar Run 
increased all the activities of the county, 
and brought an important manufacturing in- 
terest into the town, adding to the value of the 
adjacent farms. In the course of a year the 
village had so increased that a strong demand 
was made for a church in the place. The new 
church was at once erected, and a comfortable 
dwelling being obtained, Mr. Patterson and 
family moved into the town, giving his time 
and attention to the one charge, except oc- 
casional visits to his former preaching places. 

Helen had reached the age of twenty, and it 
was finally thought advisable by her parents to 
yield to the invitation of Judge Lynn and his 
wife, which had not only been frequent but 
very persistent, that she should be allowed to 
spend a winter with them in New York. 

Helen’s principles were so established that 
the gay city was not likely to detract from 
her Christian character or make her discon- 
tented with her western home ; and the oppor- 

( 199 ) 


200 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


tunities which would be afforded her for im- 
provement in music, as well as in other 
branches, it was not wisdom to refuse. 

Mrs. Patterson did not attempt to provide 
other than a very simple wardrobe for Helen, 
Mrs. Lynn insisting that it was not only her 
right, but would be her great pleasure, to add 
to her outfit. 

“ You need not fear,” she wrote, “ that I 
mean to deck your darling in gay apparel. I 
will only choose such garments as I am sure 
will be consistent with your own good taste 
and appropriate for a minister's daughter. You 
know I have never had a child of my own, and 
both the Judge and I anticipate Ker coming 
with the greatest delight, and I assure you we 
appreciate the self-denial you have shown in 
making the sacrifice.” 

A merchant going east for goods kindly con- 
sented to attend Helen to the city where her 
friends would meet her. 

Her parents scarcely knew how to bear the 
separation, and Jerusha was almost incon- 
solable. 

A month previous to this time a letter had 
been received from Mr. Stevens mentioning 
that his wife and son had died of a contagious 
fever, and that he intended soon to gb east and 
visit his parents. His little Helen, or Nellie as 


TEYING HER WINGS. 


201 


they called her, would accompany him. She 
was now over five years old and a bright and 
lively child. 

Mr. Patterson, at his wife’s suggestion, wrote 
to Mr. Stevens suggesting that Nellie might be 
left with them for the winter, to be company 
for them in the expected absence of their own 
daughter. 

The plan pleased the father since his only 
reason for taking her with him was that he had 
no competent person with whom to leave her. 

The very week before Helen left home little 
Nellie arrived at the parsonage. She was con- 
tented from the first, and they all became 
strongly attached to her, while her merry, 
guileless ways often kept Mrs. Patterson from 
dwelling upon the loss of her own child. 

Helen made the journey in safety, and found 
her new surroundings so entirely different from 
anything she had ever known that it seemed 
like an advent into a new world. The warm 
welcome she received made her feel that she 
was with kind and loving friends, and the 
beautiful room to which she was conducted, 
and which she was told was to be hers while 
she remained with them, seemed more like a 
fairy bower than a bedroom, so many pretty 
things had Mrs. Lynn brought into it to make 
it attractive to her young friend. 


202 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

The very next morning the carriage was or- 
dered, and Mrs. Lynn with Helen drove about 
from store to store, to milliners and dress- 
makers, purchasing goods and making arrange- 
ments for having them made. 

Every thing was neat and tasteful, and yet 
of the finest quality. Helen expostulated, 
“ Dear Mrs. Lynn,” she said ; “ things not so 
expensive would answer just as well for me.” 
But the lady only smiled and replied, “ You 
must let me please myself, my dear ; ” after 
which Helen made no further objection, though 
she wondered when she would have occasion to 
wear so many beautiful things. 

Her eyes, however, were speedily opened to 
the usages of fashionable society, which seemed 
to regard a great deal of dressing and visiting 
and receiving visits as a necessity ; for Mrs. 
Lynn made a point of taking Helen wherever 
she went. 

The best professors of vocal and instrumental 
music were engaged to teach the young lady, 
and her time was soon sufficiently occupied. 
Mrs. Lynn was extremely proud of her protege, 
and the frequent inquiry, “ Who is that beauti- 
ful girl with you ? ” gave her great pleasure as 
she would answer, “ Only a little western 
friend.” 

Helen was besieged with calls from the young 


TEYING HER WINGS. 


203 


people of the church which her friends at- 
tended, and invitations to visit the art galleries, 
concerts and lectures poured in upon her so 
unceasingly, that the J udge declared that his 
Prairie Bird, as he called her, was growing thin 
and pale from such unwonted dissipation, and 
he wisely made restrictions in regard to her 
going out, particularly as her father also, judg- 
ing from the tone of her letters, advised greater 
moderation in her new sphere of action. 

Helen joined an adult Bible class conducted 
by an esteemed officer in the church. She also 
taught in the mission school which had been 
started some years before through Mrs. Lynn’s 
influence, and which had grown wonderfully 
since that time. The mothers’ weekly society 
was still kept up, and the amount of good that 
had been accomplished in the homes of these 
poor women could not be fully told. Many 
were reclaimed from idleness and slovenly 
ways, and from the vile habit of drink, and the 
assistance rendered to the industrious and de- 
serving, made them anxious to merit these re- 
wards. 

Helen also joined a select literary society, 
composed of six young ladies, who met in 
course at one another’s houses. They usually 
read from some standard work which occupied 
them for two hours. They then had music or 


204 DONALD PATTEBSON’S DADGHTEK. 

social chat until tea time. After this a few 
young gentlemen were allowed to come and 
spend the evening, afterward escorting the 
young ladies to their respective homes. 

They met one evening at Mr. Livingston’s. 
His two daughters, Grace and Mabel, had won 
Helen’s love by their kind attentions to herself, 
as well as by their true excellencies of char- 
acter. 

The company had finished their reading and 
were chatting over other matters, when Laura 
Stribling, a lively girl, said, “ By the way, 
Mabel, I hear that your brother Bussell is at 
home. I hope he has come to stay. You must 
meet him. Miss Patterson ; he is a young divine 
just out of the seminary. He is far too hand- 
some, in my opinion, for a mere minister. He 
would, by his appearance and talents, grace 
any sphere in life.” 

“ Please tell me what you mean by a mere 
minister?'^ asked Helen, with an amused look. 

“Oh,” she replied, looking somewhat con- 
fused, “believe me, I meant no disrespect to 
the cloth. No one entertains a higher regard 
for the clergy than I, but Russell Livingston is 
the kind of man to shine in society, both men- 
tally and physically. Now a man to be a 
preacher does not need to be good looking ; 
indeed I think the ministers most adored by 


TRYING HER WINGS. 


205 


their congregations in this city are those who 
are most deficient in good looks.” 

“ What would you think, Laura,” said Grace 
Livingston, “ if I should tell you that Russell 
has almost decided to bid good-bye to civilized 
society and settle in the western wilds among 
the heathen.” 

“ Horrible I You do not mean it I ” 

“ That is what he told us at the dinner table 
to-day. Isn’t it dreadful ? ” then noticing the 
smile on Helen’s face, “ Oh ! I forgot. Miss 
Patterson; you are from the west, and your 
father went there too as a missionary I under- 
stand ; but, having experienced some of the in- 
conveniences of western life, do you not think 
it foolish for a young man, with every means 
of advancement in the east, to voluntarily 
seek a life of privation and toil as a home mis- 
sionary ? ” 

“No!” said Helen, with energy; “I do not 
agree with you. I honor any young man who 
is willing to take up his cross and go where the 
need is so great and the laborers are so few. 
No one need fear to follow where the Master 
leads, and the reward is sure.” 

On the other side of the portiere, which sep- 
arated this room from the next, was the library, 
and the young man who stood there, book in 


203 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


hand, had been arrested by hearing his own 
name and the remarks concerning himself. 

His face kindled at the words of the last 
speaker. The persuasions of his own family 
had made him waver in the course he had de- 
cided upon before he left the seminary. The 
words, “ He need not fear to follow where the 
Master leads,” helped to determine his choice, 
before uncertain. “ Lord, I will follow thee 
wheresoever thou leadest,” was the prayer that 
rose from his heart. 

As he would see these young ladies at the 
tea-table he quietly withdrew to meet them 
shortly afterward in the dining-room. 

He was most warmly welcomed by those he 
knew, and was introduced to Helen, the only 
stranger. As soon as he heard her voice he at 
once knew who it was that had upheld his de- 
cision, and defended his proposed course. He 
talked with her during the evening about her 
western home, and her life there. 

“But you cannot,” she said, “find the west 
as it was more than twenty years ago when my 
father went there with his bride. I mean, of 
course, in the same localities. The little ham- 
let of Cedar Run is now a town of six thousand 
inhabitants. It is now a junction town, two 
railroads passed through it a few years ago, and 
and its growth has been rapid. We have a new 


TRYING HER WINGS. 


207 


church and parsonage, and if the population 
grows as rapidly in the next five years we are 
likely to rank as a city.” 

‘‘ ‘ Line Creek ’ is the euphonious name that 
has been proposed to me for a settlement. Did 
you ever hear of it ? ” 

“ Oh yes, indeed ! ” she replied, her face 
lighting with interest. “ It is not more than 
thirteen miles north of us and in the adjoining 
county. The creek is the dividing line, hence 
the name given to the village. It is five miles 
from the railroad. I know there are good 
farms in the vicinity for an old friend of 
mine, Annie Edgar, is married and living 
there. I have a standing invitation to visit 
her which I mean to accept one of these days. 
I may see you there and hear you preach,” she 
said, with one of her winning smiles. 

“ I hope you will,” he said with earnestness. 

Laura Stribling now came up, and in her en- 
ergetic manner began to expostulate : 

“Mr. Livingston, you must not let this 
young western woman captivate you with her 
stories of western life, and lead you to forget 
the duty you owe to your friends in the east. 
I am glad you did not hear her this afternoon. 
She talked like a strong-minded preacher.” 

“ My decision was made before I saw her,” 


208 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


and added to himself, “ though I cannot say be- 
fore I heard her.” 

“Well,” continued Miss Laura, “it is not 
fair that you should monopolize Miss Patter- 
son when there are so many swains here anx- 
ious to be introduced. Here comes my brother 
for that very purpose, and you are wanted to 
join in the trio, your sisters are willing to 
sing with you. They are waiting at the 
piano.” 

He rose reluctantly, conscious it was not 
quite proper in his own house to ignore the 
other guests. If he had consulted his own 
preferences he would have remained the whole 
evening conversing with one, who in her type 
of young ladyhood, was quite different from 
those he had known all his life. To him such 
intercourse was refreshing. But he had no 
other opportunity that evening ; his old ac- 
quaintances were all engrossing; it was easy 
to see that he was a general favorite. 

Mr. Stribling endeavored to make himself as 
agreeable as he knew how to bo, although for 
some reason he found himself unfortunate in 
his choice of subjects. Miss Patterson had 
never visited the opera and could not express 
any opinion in regard to the latest singer ; she 
did not know anything about the new dances, 
as she confessed she had never learned to 


TRYING HER WINGS. 


209 


dance, and for a similar reason slie could not 
express any opinion regarding the last new 
society novel. She did warm up a little when 
he described the new horse he had recently 
purchased, and admitted to him that she was 
very fond of riding on horseback, and even 
agreed, providing Mrs. Lynn made no objec- 
tion, to accompany him to the park on the fol- 
lowing day, which permission Mr. Stribling 
valued highly, being quite certain that Mr. 
Russell Livingston had obtained no such favor. 

“It is strange to me,” Miss Stribling re- 
marked to her brother on their way home, 
“ how easily young men are captivated by a 
new face. Miss Patterson is pretty, I admit; 
but there is a total want of what we call style 
about her; she is so perfectly matter of fact.” 

“ Do you know, sister mine, that is her great- 
est charm ? Truth is written in every feature 
of her face. She is not a girl to say one thing 
and mean another, and I have yet to become 
acquainted with the first young lady who will 
not do that, when it suits her convenience. 
Why girls should try to make themselves ap- 
pear as different characters from what they 
really are, and take their cue in conversation 
from the person they are talking with I never 
could understand. I have heard them contra- 
dict themselves half a dozen times in one even- 
14 


210 DONALD PATTEBSON’S DAUGHTER. 

ing. They will try to make a fellow believe 
that they like and admire him more than any 
one else ; and act in the same way to the next 
one they talk with. Now Miss Patterson and 
flirting cannot be named together.” 

“ Ho ! ho ! master Tom ! So that is the way 
the land lies, is it ? ” said Laura, as she mounted 
the stairs to go to her room. “Well, good 
night, and success to you.” 


CHAPTER XVTIL 


IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON. 

rpHE following Sabbath morning, when Miss 
Stribling came down the stairs prepared for 
church, whom should she see but her brother 
Tom in the hall, attired in his newest suit, cane 
in hand, as if about taking his departure. 

“ Going out for a walk, Tom ? 

“I thought if you had no objection to a beau 
this morning,” in a voice he vainly tried to 
make natural, “I would accompany you to 
church.” 

She gave him a teasing glance, saying, “ It is 
easy to see that ‘Make hay while the sun 
shines,’ is your present motto. I well remem- 
ber that Judge Lynn’s pew is the second in 
front of our own ; such ardent devotion surely 
deserves to be rewarded.” 

“ Absurd ! Why should there be anything 
remarkable in my going to churh and sitting in 
our own pew? ” 

“ Only for the reason that for the past six 
months, the numerous invitations I have given 
you to accompany me to church have failed, 

( 211 ) 


212 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

and now this little Puritan with her baby face 
attracts you without an effort. I will admit 
however,” seeing her brother’s clouded brow, 
“that she knows how to ride on horseback. 
Even Craig’s most celebrated pupils might 
envy her, and that blue cloth riding habit and 
hat were really stunning. Mrs. Lynn certainly 
shows excellent taste in selecting her ward- 
robe.” 

Mr. Tom’s feelings being only partially ap- 
peased, he had but little to say and Miss 
Laura continued to chatter until they reached 
the church door. 

Mr. Stribling did not show the disappoint- 
ment he really felt when the Lynn family filed 
into their pew and Helen was not with them. 
He did not respond to his sister’s quizzical look, 
although she tried hard to catch his eye, but 
behaved throughout the service, as if only the 
purest motives had brought him there. 

As they passed out of church together, Laura 
inquired for Helen of Mrs. Lynn, and was in- 
formed that she had that morning accompanied 
Mr. Livingston to the Mission chapel in which 
he was particularly interested. 

Her brother likewise heard the fact men- 
tioned, though he looked away as if quite un- 
concerned. 


IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON. 213 

As soon as they were alone, Laura began to ' 
banter. 

“ Well, Tom, it is nip and tuck between Rus- 
sell Livingston and yourself, isn’t it ? I won- 
der who will come out the best man. You are 
good-looking, but when it comes to moral char- 
acter I am afraid Russell will come out ahead. 
You know if you were to try your utmost you 
could not lead a prayer meeting.” 

To this his only response was, “ It does really 
seem to me, Laura, that lately you are indulging 
in a great amount of slang, and if anything 
makes a young lady appear coarse and unre- 
fined in my opinion it is that.” 

The check he received, if such it might be 
called, did not deter Mr. Stribling from making 
an uncommonly early visit to the florist the 
next morning and ordering to be sent to Miss 
Helen Patterson as lovely a boquet of roses as 
money could buy. 

There was something in the chapel and its 
surroundings, that seemed to Helen more home- 
like than the well-appointed church with its 
well-dressed fashionable people. Although she 

thoroughly enjoyed the preaching of Dr. H 

she no less enjoyed the simple service among 
the plain people at the chapel. 

- The leader for the day was unexpectedly ab- 
sent, and Mr. Livingston had no alternative but 


214 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


to leave her side and take his seat upon the 
platform. He had seldom felt such hesitancy. 
Why should the presence of this one person dis- 
concert him and make him long for larger prep- 
aration, and a more interesting theme than 
“ What is My Duty ? ” the subject which had 
been announced the previous Sabbath. 

As he arose for prayer his tones were hesitat- 
ing, but even while he spoke strength came to 
him, and when he sat down his heart was glow- 
ing with a love for souls and with thankfulness 
that he himself had been called to the blessed 
work of preaching the gospel of Christ. 

There was another difficulty. WJien the 
hymn was given out there was no organist 
present, and after reading the hymn Mr. Liv- 
ingston asked if some one would come forward 
and lead the music. His eye fell on Helen, and 
she at once arose composed and ready, and 
seated herself at the organ. Her sweet voice 
clear and strong was very noticeable as she led 
the singing, and never to the young minister 
had the music sounded better. He made a 
short address after the reading of the Scripture, 
and then the meeting, being left open, was en- 
livened by brief remarks, prayers and singing. 
There was a short pause ; again it seemed to 
Helen that the leader’s eyes rested upon her. 
She turned to the organ and in tones so clear, 


IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON. 215 

that every word was heard distinctly by all in 
the room, she sang the following hymn ; 

“ Who is on the Lord’s side? 

Who will serve the King ? 

Who will be his helpers 
Other lives to bring ? 

Who will leave the world’s side ? 

Who will face the foe? 

Who is on the Lord’s side, 

Who for him will go ? 

** Not for weight of glory, 

Not for Crown and palm 
Enter we the army, 

Raise the warrior’s psalm. 

But for love that claimeth 
Lives for whom he died, 

He whom Jesus nameth 
Must be on His side. 

“ Jesus, Thou hast bought us 
Not with gold or gem. 

But with thine own life blood 
For Thy diadem. 

With Thy blessing filling 
Each who comes to Thee, 

Thou hast made us willing. 

Thou hast made us free. 

By Thy grand redemption 
By Thy grace divine. 

We are on the Lord’s side ; 

Saviour, we are thine.” 


You could have heard a pin drop so quiet 
was the room. Then Mr. Livingston arose and 


216 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

with a voice of deep feeling asked if those who 
were on the Lord’s side would rise in their seats. 
Many did so, but a number remained seated. 
“ I will not ask if there are any here,” he con- 
tinued, “ who have enlisted under Satan’s ban- 
ner, but I will ask if all who are, and all who 
wish to be on the Lord’s side will stand up. 
The whole audience arose, and Mr. Livingston 
prayed that the Spirit of the mighty God would 
come down and draw reluctant hearts to him- 
self, that all might be enabled to enlist under 
the banner of King Immanuel. Meetings for 
the ensuing week were appointed and the. serv- 
ice was at an end. 

The two walked quietly along for some dis- 
tance ; then Mr. Livingston said, “ You do not 
know how much you assisted me this morning. 
Miss Helen. Your presence proved an inspira- 
tion, and I do not know how to thank you suf- 
ficiently for the excellent aid you rendered 
me.” 

“ It was no sacrifice on my part, I assure you. 
I enjoyed the service very much. It seemed to 
me there was a true spirit of seriousness, and a 
desire for better things in the meeting, and I 
should not wonder if to-day is the beginning of 
a revival which may work wonders in that 
neighborhood.” 

And so it proved. Night after night the 


IK SEASOK AND OUT OF SEASON. 217 


house was filled with many inquiring the way 
to a new life, to hope and comfort. Judge 
Lynn and Helen often attended, and more than 
once Helen led the singing, occasionally sing- 
ing alone something appropriate to the subject. 

The Judge in speaking of this to his wife 
said, “ I must confess I was startled when dur- 
ing a pause, Helen, who sat next me, started a 
hymn. But there was an utter absence of 
anything like display, and then I felt her father, 
if present, would not have objected, and why 
should I? That young Livingston is a grow- 
ing man, and I could not help but think if he 
ever wants a help-meet he could not find a bet- 
ter wife than our Helen. Has it ever occurred 
to you my dear ? he added, as he saw her 
smiling. 

“ It certainly has,’’ she replied, “and if I do 
not greatly mistake, the idea has also occurred 
to Mr. Livingston.” 

“Tut, tut!” said the Judge impatiently, 
“ that will not answer. Do you think Helen is 
aware of his preference ? ” 

“ I do not think she is especially interested, 
though she does admire him as she would any 
thoroughly Christian gentleman.” 

“ I owe it to my friend Donald to keep Helen 
free from all entanglements, and to return her 
to him as heart-whole as she was when she came 


218 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


to us. I must seek an opportunity to talk 
with that young man and put him on his 
guard before he does further mischief. I can- 
not say that I blame the fellow though ; the 
wonder is that all the young men of sense 
who have met her, are not suing at her feet, 
for to my mind she has no superior.” 

Mrs. Lynn responded lightly. “ Suing at her 
feet is a figure of speech; no young man does 
that literally.” 

The Judge made it convenient to call on Mr. 
Livingston the next day, his ostensible reason 
being to make a promised donation for the 
wants of the Mission, his real purpose to in- 
form him of what he considered his own ob- 
ligation to Mr. Patterson, as the present guar- 
dian of his daughter. 

Mr. Livingston betrayed his interest on the 
first mention of Helen’s name; and the Judge 
found it easy, while joining in her praises, to 
say that while he was happy to know that 
she had won the regard of so many of his 
friends, he would consider himself unworthy 
of the confidence reposed in him if he failed 
to return her to her father as unfettered as 
when she came. 

The young man’s face flushed as he looked 
up, and his simple, “ Thank you, Judge,” 


IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON. 219 


showed the true gentleman, and showed too, 
that the Judge was thoroughly understood. 

The latter could not forbear adding, “If in a 
later time and with her father’s approbation 
she should become the wife of a worthy man 
like yourself, nothing would give me greater 
satisfaction.” 

“ She is the only woman I have ever seen that 
I would like to have for a life-long compan- 
ion,” said the young man frankly, “ and though 
I just here say in strict confidence I had an- 
other course in view, I will respect your 
wishes and in no way strive to win her espe- 
cial regard at this time. If I should go to 
the field which now lies open to me at the 
close of my seminary year, I will be compar- 
atively near to her home and will then hope 
to make the acquaintance of her parents.” 

“ And when you see them, you will not won- 
der that Helen is what she is. My wife and I 
were both re-converted when we visited them 
some years ago. Yes, we had been professors 
of religion for some years ; and Christians too, 
I hope. We had the form of godliness; not 
much of its spirit I fear. I verily thought my 
friend Patterson, when I saw his surroundings, 
had degraded himself by remaining in such an 
unpromising field. I expressed my opinions 
to him very strongly that he was sacrificing 


220 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


himself by devoting his talents where they 
could not be appreciated. I shall never for- 
get the first sermon I heard him preach. It 
was from this text, ‘ And how shall they hear 
without a preacher ? ’ His watchword was, 
‘ the whole world for Christ ; ’ and to this end 
not only ministers, but all Christian layman 
should make every endeavor to win souls into 
the kingdom. Ah, my friend, I learned before 
I left that neighborhood that the saving power 
of the church is its sacrificing power, and I can 
truly give you Godspeed if your future lot is 
cast in a destitute field. Twenty years have 
made great changes in the west, and you are 
not likely to suffer the privations and hindrances 
which many good men and their families were 
formerly called to pass through. There are re- 
gions beyond, however, as destitute of gospel 
privileges, and as loud in their call for help as 
was the field at Cedar Run when Donald Pat- 
terson took charge of it.” 


CHAPTER XIX. 


HOME AGAIN. 

TTELEN stood at her bedroom window idly 
glancing into the street below. 

It was a genial May morning, and this was to 
be her last day in New York, for on the mor- 
row her face would be set homeward. Through 
correspondence with her father she had been 
apprised of suitable company on her return. 
During the past eight months she had gained 
so much more experience of the ways of the 
world, that if it had not been her parents’ 
desire she would wdllingly have made the 
journey alone, particularly as the changes on 
the route were so few. 

“ One would think, father dear,” she had 
written, “ that you expect to have returned to 
you the same unsophisticated little country 
girl you parted with last fall. Erase any such 
thought from your mind, for I flatter myself 
that I have gained during my flitting, not so 
much knowledge from encyclopedias as from 
observation, and you can tell Jerusha that I 

( 221 ) 


222 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


have more wonderful things to impart than she 
can ever find questions to ask me. 

“ You suggest that I shall miss, in my quiet 
home, the luxuries to which I have lately been 
accustomed. It will not be so, I assure you. 
While I have enjoyed every thing to the full, 
there has never been a moment that I would 
not willingly exchange it all for my quiet home, 
as you call it, the best and dearest in all the 
world to me.” 

Helen had profited greatly by her life in the 
great city. 

Her views on many points had been enlight- 
ened and broadened. The society in which she 
had moved, particularly the companionship of 
Judge Lynn and his wife, had exerted a re- 
fining influence, and had given her a greater 
insight into the literature of • the day and a 
more intimate acquaintance with modern 
Writers of renown. 

Truly the eight months’ absence from home 
had not been lost, and she rejoiced in the fact 
more on account of the pleasure and satisfaction 
her improvement would afford her parents. 

It was therefore with no envious feelings that 
she looked about the beautiful apartment which 
had been hers through the winter, and con- 
trasted it with the little room awaiting her in 
her western home. Neat and pure and taste- 


HOME AGAIN. 


223 


ful though it was, it could not compare with 
the luxurious surroundings of her present life. 

Her meditations were here interrupted by 
Mrs. Lynn, who informed her that Mr. Living- 
ston was below with his carriage, who invited 
her to go to the park with him once more that 
she might bid farewell to the birds and swans. 

Helen assented willingly. Dear lover of 
nature that she was, she never tired of the 
park with its many attractions. 

Mrs. Lynn watched her as she made herself 
ready. “ You will be likely to miss Mr. Liv- 
ingston, my dear ; he has been such a devoted 
cavalier, though probably your western swains 
may be as gallant in your estimation. And by 
the way, what has become of Monsieur Strib- 
bling ! I think you must have given him a 
rebuff ; I have not seen him here for two or 
three weeks.” 

Helen’s blush convinced Mrs. Lynn that such 
had been the case, and she said nothing further 
on the subject. “As for Russell Livingston 
you will not find many better men than he. I 
think your father must have been something 
like him when a young man.” 

Helen’s face glowed with pleasure. “Do you 
know, Mrs. Lynn, the same thought has often 
occurred to me ? I think,” she continued, in- 


224 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 

genuously, “ that must be the reason I like him 
so well.” 

There was a peculiar smile on Mrs. Lynn’s 
face which Helen did not see as she preceded 
her down-stairs, but Mr. Livingston who had 
passed into the hall on their approach returned 
it, with appreciation. “With Miss Helen’s 
permission and your own, Mrs. Lynn, I will 
not return her to you until this afternoon. My 
mother is not well enough to call here, and 
therefore wishes her to dine with us to-day 
that she may have an opportunity of seeing her 
before she leaves.” 

Helen looked doubtfully at her dress, but 
Mrs. Lynn settled the matter by saying, “ This 
informal invitation means, of course, a family 
dinner, and your new traveling dress is both 
becoming and suitable ; is it not Mr. Living- 
ston? ” 

“ Indeed ; I think it charming ! ” he replied, 
with such emphasis that Mrs. Lynn laughed. 

“ You gentlemen never understand the de- 
tails of a lady’s dress ; with you her outward 
adornments do not embellish her, but it is the 
woman who magnifies her dress.” 

“ Should it not always be so ? ” 

“ It depends entirely upon the woman. If 
all were like the young lady in question I 
would agree with you ; but there are many poor 


HOME AGAIN. 


225 


sisters, alas ! wlio require all the assistance art 
can give to make them presentable.” 

“ Let them cultivate their minds and hearts ; 
true admirers will not be wanting.” 

Helen had gone up-stairs for a handkerchief 
and did not hear this conversation, nor did she 
know to what Mrs. Lynn alluded when on bid- 
ding Mr. Livingston “ good-morning,” she 
added, “ Believe me, you have my best wishes 
for your success.” 

“ I have to thank you for many pleasant 
rides, Mr. Livingston,” Helen said, as they were 
entering the park. “I am so thankful that, 
through Judge Lynn’s kindness in procuring 
for me photographic views, I can be able to give 
my friends at home some faint idea of the at- 
tractive places I have seen.” 

Mr. Livingston would greatly have liked to 
inform his companion how much he felt himself 
to be her debtor, and how unspeakably precious 
were the opportunities she had given him for 
the enjoyment of her society, but his word had 
been given to the Judge, and he did not dare to 
trespass even on the edge of the forbidden 
ground, lest he might be carried too far : so he 
merely said, “ Why, Miss Helen, the most op- 
portune thing that could have happened to me 
has been your acquaintance. The information 
I have obtained from you concerning your 
15 


226 DONALD PATTEKSON’S DAUGHTER. 


western home and the wants and character of 
the people with whom I am soon to be associ- 
ated has been invaluable to me. I yesterday 
received a letter from Line Creek, which I have 
brought with me that you may read it. Strange 
to say, it is evidently from the husband of the 
old friend you mentioned to me.” 

The letter ran thus : 

“ Dear Sib; 

“Yours received and contents noted. If yon 
are a God-fearing man, and are willing to work, you will 
find at Line Creek and neighborhood a good field where you 
can exercise your powers. We are a plain people hut hon- 
est, and if you are willing to do your part, you won’t find 
ns slow to help. 

“My wife has a friend, Miss Helen Patterson now visitin’ 
in New York, and if you should happen to run against her, 
she can tell you more in ten minutes than I could write in 
an hour, of what kind of life you may expect to lead in 
these regions. I would mortally hate to have you disap- 
pointed after you come here. If you have no horse in 
view, I have a likely one to sell at a fair price. Let us 
know when to expect you ; you will stop with us at first 
till you can look about you. So no more. 

“Yours with respect, 

“John B. Warder.” 

Helen laughed merrily as she handed back 
the letter. “ Now Mr. Livingston, to use Mr. 
Warder’s figure of speech, since you have run 
against me, what more can I tell you about 
your future field ? 1 have fully ten minutes at 

your service.” 


HOME AGAIN. 


227 


“ You can tell me whether it would be quite 
impracticable for me to transport my horse and 
carriage along with myself to my new home. 
They belong to me and I would very much like 
to take them with me.’^ 

“ I see no reason why you should not. You 
may find it needful to preach now and then on 
the tenth commandment and enforce its lessons, 
for I do not believe Line Creek has ever been 
visited by such a carriage as this, and no horse 
in that locality ever wore such beautiful har- 
ness. You will see some very good horses 
though ; our young men are good judges of 
horse flesh, and are very ambitious in that line. 
Among our rough country roads a good riding 
horse is indispensable.” 

“ I should be sorry to do or have any thing 
that would occasion remark. As for this har- 
ness it will be an easy matter to pass it over to 
my father and obtain a plainer one. Most of 
my life has been spent in the city, and I have 
very little familiarity with country life. Rising 
early, busy through the day, and retiring early 
are facts I usually associate with a farmer’s life. 
It has seemed to me that such a life must be a 
hum-drum one, though of course there are ex- 
ceptions.” 

“ Yes ! it is true. You will find many men 
and women too who are so entirely wrapped up 


228 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

in their daily life that they talk of nothing else, 
and take for granted that you are, or ought to 
be, as much interested as themselves. You will 
find others, however, with good minds and 
though without much education, men of good 
judgment and practical common sense. Per- 
sons like these take a weekly paper, and even 
by this slight means are able to take in a wider 
range of thought and keep themselves in a 
slight degree abreast of the times. Such points 
as they do not understand or are specially in- 
terested in, they save up to discuss with the 
minister. In this way a minister of the right 
sort^ may obtain a great power over his people, 
and the fact that ‘ the minister said so,’ is usu- 
ally enough to quiet all cavillers.” 

“ Miss Helen, tell me candidly, do you think 
I am going to be a minister of the right sort?” 

Helen met his earnest glance and instead of 
answering in a light vein as she intended, her 
color rose, and she replied, “I do not think you 
have any reason to be discouraged.” Then re- 
suming her usual manner, “ I agreed with Mrs. 
Lynn that you must be something like my 
father was when a young man. I can give you 
no greater praise than that.” 

“ Thank you ! ” he said, feelingly, “ I will 
strive to deserve your good opinion. Come, 
let us turn our thoughts eastward for a while. 


HOME AGAIN. 


229 


there is enough to excite our admiration and 
claim our interest.” 

Mr. Livingston had that morning a long and 
confidential talk with his mother. She had seen 
Helen several times, but until her son assured 
her of the state of his feelings, she had no idea 
it was his intention to marry her. Her desire 
to see Helen again and to look upon her with 
her son’s eyes, was the secret of the invitation 
given, and as his sisters, not knowing of the 
arrangement, were out, and would not return 
until dinner, Mr. Livingston shortened the ride. 
Arriving at the house Helen was at once taken 
to Mrs. Livingston’s room, who could not leave 
it on account of a sprained ankle. 

Helen went forward, a tall and graceful girl, 
not strictly beautiful, with very fine eyes and a 
face expressive of intelligence and kind feeling. 

“Nothing objectionable in appearance,” was 
Mrs. Livingston’s inward decision. Holding 
out her hand, “ Come kiss me, my dear, and let 
me tell you how sorry I am your visit is so near 
its close.” 

When Mr. Livingston at the close of an hour 
came with his sisters to his mother’s room he 
was well satisfied with the look she bestowed 
upon him. 

Mrs. Livingston could not but admire Helen’s 


230 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTEE. 


manner so free from display and showing such 
utter unconsciousness of self. 

“ Tell me, my dear, something of your home 
life, will you ? I must confess that I have usually 
looked upon the missionary fields of the west 
as a poor place in which to bring up children. 
You must have good surroundings, my dear.” 

Helen was gradually led by Mrs. Living- 
ston’s apparent interest to tell of her father’s 
devotion to his work, of her mother’s labors 
and poor health before Jerusha came to lighten 
the toil. The story of Esther and her early 
death brought tears to her listener’s eyes. 

“Life is a great responsibility,” she said at 
last. “ I feel very different from what I did a 
few months ago. Then it seemed to me a need- 
less sacrifice to allow my dear son to go so far 
away among a people uncultured and unre- 
fined. But he was so earnest and resolute in 
his choice that I have not been able to say no 
to his wishes, though it will be hard to part 
with him. He tells me your father is settled 
but a short distance from Line Creek. Do you 
think I can, through you, bespeak for Russell 
your father’s friendship? I would so like to 
know he had one faithful adviser and friend.” 

“ I am very sure my father will be delighted 
to have so competent a man as Mr. Livingston 
settled near him.” 


HOME AGAIN. 


231 


“And will you too be a faithful friend to 
him ? I know Russell respects you highly.” 

Helen felt somewhat agitated by her search- 
ing look, but she answered, “I am quite certain 
Mrs. Livingston, your son will not want for 
friends when he is known ; ” which reply 
pleased the mother greatly. 

A number of her friends were at the station 
to wish Helen a Godspeed on her journey, 
though Mr. Livingston congratulated himself 
that the last clasp of her hand was given to 
him. 

Jerusha’s energies were never excited to a 
greater degree than when she began her prepar- 
ations for Helen’s return. She walked two 
miles to procure the choicest wild flowers, and 
the daintiest dishes she knew how to concoct 
were made ready for her favorite. The house 
was immaculate in its cleanness, and the garden 
and yard never looked neater. 

Oh the joy of the home coming! It made 
up to the parents for the privation and loneli- 
ness which they had felt but never mentioned 
to her. How well they were repaid for the sac- 
rifice they had made. She came back the same 
Helen ; the great city with its fascinations had 
not spoiled her, she had culled only good from 
its great storehouse, and escaped the evil. 


CHAPTER XX. 


A PEEP AT OLD FEIENDS. 

rpWO pleasant surprises met Helen on her 
arrival at home, causing further gratitude 
to the friends who had already shown her so 
much kindness. One was a new piano in the 
little parlor, a gift from Judge Lynn. In addi- 
tion to her name was added on the card, “ A 
small payment for the pleasure I received from 
your singing.’’ 

The other was a new carpet and a very neat 
but pretty set of furniture for her own room. 
A trunk from these kind friends had been 
previously sent, containing some choice books 
for Mr. Patterson, a black silk dress and wrap 
for his wife, and a dress and warm shawl for 
Jerusha. “ I do suppose,” said the latter when 
exhibiting her presents, “ those folks in York 
have more money than they well know what to 
do with. I was dreadful afraid that with the 
fine dresses they gave you, and the fine times 
you was havin’, they would turn you into a 
city lady, and that you would never be real 
happy in your own home again.” 

( 232 ) 


A PEEP AT OLD EEIENDS. 233 

“ Then you had a very poor opinion of me, 
Jerusha,” said Helen with assumed severity. 
“ Let me tell you once for all, that no place can 
ever be to me like my own dear home.” 

“ I’m mighty glad to hear you say it, for I 
did think it more likely” — looking slyly at her 
— “ that some New York chap would just take 
a notion to you and persuade you to stay 
there for good. I can’t understand why some 
of them didn’t try to entice you ; it’s a blessed 
thing for us that you’re back ; you can never 
know how we missed you. 

“ Here, let me do that, honey ” — as she saw 
Helen preparing to make some biscuit ; “ your 
hands are out of such work.” 

“ You mistake, my hands are in,” laughingly 
replied Helen, letting the flour sift through her 
fingers. “ I want to find out whether baking 
biscuit with me is a lost art.” 

To Helen the golden days had not departed. 
Right where she had laid down her church 
work she resumed it again. The singing-school, 
the young people’s meetings, all felt her influ- 
ence, and all with her co-operation brightened 
into better and more active service. 

Their change of residence had greatly im- 
proved Mrs. Patterson’s health, and she was 
looking far better than she had done for years. 
It was not so with her husband. There were 


234 DONALD Patterson’s daughter. 


deep lines in his forehead ; he looked older ; his 
hair was well mingled with gray, and there was 
a tired look in his eyes that went to Helen’s 
heart when she first saw him. “Father,” she 
exclaimed, “ you are not looking well. Con- 
fess ; what have you been doing to yourself ? ” 
He smiled in his old way as he clasped her 
closely to him. “ If you mean that I am grow- 
ing old, and have lost my good looks, I think 
mother must have stolen them. Don’t you see 
how much she has improved? ” 

“ You have been working too hard ; I know 
the signs. Three prayer-meetings during the 
week, preaching three times on Sunday ; why, 
it is all too much for any man.” 

“ I know it, dear,” he said, more soberly. “ I 
forget sometimes that I am not as strong as I 
was twenty years ago ; and yet, Helen, the 
need is just as great. Openings for work are 
constantly showing themselves, and the cry is 
still heard, ‘ The laborers are few.’ I was glad 
to hear from Judge Lynn that a good man — a 
good worker — is going to Line Creek in the 
fall. Livingston I think was the name. Did 
you meet him?” 

“ Yes, sir ; ” then she added ; “ I know his 
sisters.” 

“ Is he a young man ? ” 

“ Yes, sir,” again she replied, wondering why 


A PEEP AT OLD FEIENDS. 235 

the mention of the name should make her feel 
so conscious. 

Her father noticed her confusion and changed 
the subject. He felt an uncomfortable pang ; 
had he gained his darling only to lose her ? 
But like a wise man he concluded to wait ; if 
there was anything to tell he would learn it in 
due time. 

A short time after her return home Helen 
came into the house having been out to call 
upon some of her neighbors. Her face bore a 
look partly of amusement and partly of annoy- 
ance. 

Her mother observed it. “ What is the mat- 
ter ? ” she asked. 

“ Oh ! nothing of importance,” she answered. 
“ The people seem to me to be changing, losing 
their plain tastes ; perhaps it was partly curi- 
osity. I had no satisfaction talking to my sick 
Sunday-school scholar, Anna Jones, for her 
mother and sister constantly interrupted me by 
inquiries regarding the fashions — whether 
plaids or stripes were most ■worn, whether long 
basques or short ones, hair high or low, bonnets 
large or small. I am sure they thought I had 
made poor use of my opportunities, for I know 
that I failed to satisfy them. Then when I 
went in to Mrs. Sailor’s I found her busy with 
a dress-maker and right glad to see me, but 


236 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 


only that she could get my opinion about the 
prevailing stjdes. In order to see how my dress 
was made, I had to stand up and be turned 
about until I felt like a dummy in a New York 
window. I’m tired of . fashionable life; why 
cannot we have a picnic to-morrow and in 
our old carryall. with father, you, Jerusha, and 
myself, make a visit to our old home? I’m 
pining to see Job Stetzer’s white head and 
beaming countenance, and his wife in her 
short gown and petticoat, and dear old Aunts 
Debby and Prissy. Father needs a holiday; 
we will carry plenty of eatables so as not to 
take them by surprise.” 

This plan proved acceptable to all parties. 
The day chosen for the excursion was unusu- 
ally bright and balmy. The trees were in leaf, 
the air was full of sweet murmurs, birds were 
nest-building, dandelions had lifted their bright 
heads and were looking about them, and banks 
of violets were blooming in their chosen spots. 

As they rode through the country, men were 
in the fields ploughing and planting, and signs 
of activity and the commencement of the farm- 
er’s summer work were everywhere noticeable. 
There were many changes too in these country 
homes since Mr. and Mrs. Patterson’s first ac- 
quaintance with them. Many had built new 
dwellings; others had erected a frame building 


A PEEP AT OLD FRIENDS. 237 

alongside of the old log house. Fences were 
in better repair and the roads were greatly im- 
proved. 

Job Stetzer welcomed his friends with de- 
light, and nothing would do but they should j 
come into the house and rest a while. His 
wife had gone to a neighbor’s but soon came in. 

“ How the child has grown,” she said, look- 
ing at Helen ; “ and as pretty as a pink too, I 
declare. If they have any better specimens in 
New York I’d like to see ’em.” 

“ Oh Aunty Stetzer, such a pretty speech 
deserves to be rewarded. Here is a little 
cream pitcher I brought you to take the place 
of one I broke for you when I was a child ; and 
here is a testament in large print, for you. 
Uncle Job.” 

The old folks were touched at her remem- 
brance of them. “ You are just beginning 
life,” said Job, “ and we shall soon be passing 
out of it,” but as long as we live we shall pray 
that the Lord’s blessing may be upon you and 
your family. We were little better than 
heathen when your father came among us ; now 
our church is full every Sunday. Mr. Town- 
send is doing a good work. He had a good 
example, and he is. trying to follow it. They 
say he is trying to snare a bird at Aunt Debby’s ; 

' he goes there pretty often.” 


238 DONALD patteeson’s daughtee. 


“ Do you mean little Madge ? ” asked Helen. 

“ Yes, but she’s little no longer; but a good 
sized healthy young woman. She has lived 
with them since she came from Cincinnati, 
where she has been going to school.” 

When they arrived at Aunt Debby’s, Madge 
met them at the door. From a hoyden, she had 
developed into a young lady of eighteen. 

“ Your face has not changed a particle,” said 
Helen, “ but looks like the same little Madge 
who was so fond of dolls and kittens.” 

Aunt Debby was an invalid from rheumatism, 
but Aunt Prissy still moved about with the old 
time vigor. 

Madge, .with Helen to assist, prepared the 
dinner. Jerusha had taken the carriage and 
gone up the Indian Trail road to visit her old 
home, expecting to return early in the after- 
noon. At the dinner table Helen smiled 
knowingly at Madge’s red cheeks when Mr. 
Townsend’s name was mentioned, and in the 
afternoon when he calkd, it was easy to see 
from their manner that a mutual interest ex- 
isted between them. 

“Did you ever finish your task of learning 
the commandments, Madge ? ” whispered Helen 
mischievously. “ Ministers’ wives should be 
well versed in the Bible truths which their 
husbands preach.” 


A PEEP AT OLD FRIENDS. 


239 


Madge cast an anxious look across the room 
where Mr. Townsend and Mr. Patterson were 
busily engaged in talking. 

“ Yes ! of course I learned them. Don’t you 
you remember you persuaded me into good be- 
havior by giving me a kitten ? I knew all the 
commandments by spring. I have a few things 
to do first, and then suppose you and I take a 
walk. There is no danger now of our getting 
lost and I do want to talk with you.” 

“ Mr. Townsend looks as if he would like to 
accompany us.” 

“ Mr. Townsend is not wanted now,” replied 
Madge, with a saucy smile. “ He is in good 
company; let him stay there, until we come 
back.” 

“ The truth is, Helen,” said Madge, in a sub- 
dued tone, soon after they had started out, “ I 
have been very anxious to see you. I want you 
to answer me candidly; do you think I am 
at all fit for a minister’s wife ? I have told 
Mr. Townsend I knew that I was not, at least 
a dozen times, but he will think better of me 
than I know I deserve.” 

Helen looked at the earnest face beside her. 
“Do you love the Lord Jesus and are you 
willing to work for him? ” she asked gently. 

Madge’s brown eyes were full of tears as she 
raised them. “ Yes, I think I can truly say I 


240 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

do love my Saviour, and am willing to do what 
I can for him ; but you know, Helen, I am so 
lively. I like to laugh and have fun; I am 
afraid I can never go about with a long face, 
looking solemn, or the way ministers’ wives 
ought to look.” 

“ What an idea I ” laughed Helen. “ Do you 
think Mr. Townsend would have sought you if he 
had wanted a wife with a solemn countenance ? 
He would let you go at once, if he thought any 
such fate awaited him. Madge, if any men 
need cheerful, contented wives, I think they are 
ministers. They often meet with a good deal 
to disturb them in their out door work, and if 
they can find a cheerful wife at home it pays 
them for much they have to endure. And then 
you know what the Bible says. Don’t you find 
encouragement in that? ‘A merry heart doeth 
good like a medicine,’ and ‘ A merry heart hath a 
continual feast.’ So cheer up, little doubter, 
and take the good that comes to you. Tell me 
of your plans; will you live here with your 
aunts ? ” 

“ Uncle and father were here last week, and 
after talking the matter over, they concluded to 
buy your old house, and it is being fixed up 
now. They are adding two rooms to the back 
and are raising the roof. It was very hard for my 
aunts to make up their minds to leave their old 


A PEEP AT OLD FRIENDS. 


241 


home that had sheltered them for so many years, 
but they see the wisdom of it. Neither of them 
can bear exposure ; so we shall put their things 
in what was your best room and have our little 
parlor on the other side. Mr. Prior will buy 
aunties’ house ; he already owns most of the 
land between his place and ours, and after 
fixing up the house and building a new barn 
they will move in. It will be nearer the 
church and railroad. Tom is so good about it 
all. Still he knew that I could not be separated 
from Aunties. Aunt Debby is scarcely able to 
wait upon herself ; her poor limbs are so racked 
with rheumatism.” 

“ I see a great change in Aunt Debby ; Aunt 
Prissy seems much the same. She tells me she 
is seventy-nine and Aunt Debby eighty-one, 
and that she still teaches her class in Sabbath- 
school when the weather is fit.” 

Jerusha came back with the carriage box 
filled with vines, roots of wild flowers, and 
large bunches of violets. Like many others of 
plain exterior she possessed an artistic soul, and 
had a keen sense of the beautiful in nature. 

“ What is in this corner ? ” asked Helen peer- 
ing into the box. 

“It’s a chicken, cleaned and picked for tor 
morrow’s dinner. When I got to Mns. Miller’s 
there was her pail of lime rea4y slacked for 
16 


242 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

house-cleaning ^nd she in bed with a lame 
shoulder, so I slipped on an old dress and in 
an hour I had the room white-washed, and 
not long after I had the floor scrubbed and 
the carpet shook and laid. She made me take 
the chicken. I wouldn’t have done it, but 
your father’s appetite is poor, and I thought 
he might like it.” 

“ Well, Jerusha, I can only say, what I have 
said many times before, you are a wonderful 
woman.” 


CHAPTER XXL 


CONCLUSION. 

fTlHE Gummer passed along with no unusual 
events to mark its course. The Sabbath 
services in town received regular attention and 
the meetings in the country were served by Mr. 
Patterson so far as his strength permitted. Mr. 
Townsend had taken one of the preaching sta- 
tions, and Jimmy Hines was always ready to 
take charge of another when Mr. Patterson was 
unable to attend to it himself. 

“There is a ‘tony’ looking buggy outside 
and a spruce looking young man tying his 
horse. I reckon he wants to see your father ; 
but he and your mother have gone down the 
street to see that sick baby, and my hands are 
in the dough ; I wish you’d attend to him,” 
called Jerusha from the back door to Helen, 
who was in the garden gathering a bouquet of 
the late flowers. 

She nodded her head in assent and walking 
around the house reached the front just as Mr. 
Livingston, for it was he, placed his foot upon 
the door step. 


( 243 ) 


244 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTER. 

Not a word had Helen heard from him since 
she left him in New York, but she had been 
thinking of him now that the fall had come. 

The welcome look on her face was very grati- 
fying to the young man as he grasped her hand 
and said, “ I am delighted — to meet you again, 
Miss Helen.” 

Jerusha, who had been looking from the 
window, did not hear any words, but she saw 
the expression of their faces and she stood 
pinned to the floor with the new sensations that 
crowded upon her. “ It’s a sure case and no 
mistake ; what will her father and mother say ? 
But, what’s goin’ to be, will be,” and she turned 
to her work more vigorously than ever. 

Mr. Patterson coming in soon after received 
the young man most cordially, and introduced 
his wife. Mr. Livingston agreed to have his 
horse put up and to remain during the day as 
he wanted to ask Mr. Patterson’s advice about 
many things connected with his new field of 
labor. He had also brought a note from Mrs. 
Warder to Helen urging her to return with the 
young minister and make her promised visit at 
Line Creek. 

There were special reasons why Helen could 
not go that afternoon, for there was a young 
people’s meeting in the evening, and she had 
prevailed on two young girls who had never at- 


CONCLUSION. 


245 


tended them to go, promising to call for them. 
It was finally arranged that she should go to 
Line Creek the following week, Mr. Livingston 
being only too willing to make another visit for 
the purpose. 

“I want to get very familiar with all roads 
adjacent to my charge,’^ said he, “and some 
members of my congregation are living on the 
road between Line Creek and this place.” 

Mr. Livingston made a very favorable impres- 
sion upon the minister and his wife, so that 
they felt they could heartily endorse Judge 
Lynn’s recommendation. It was during a walk 
which they took that Mr. Livingston laid before 
the father the subject which was nearest his 
heart. 

Mr. Patterson remained silent for a moment 
or two. “ You must not think,” continued Mr. 
Livingston, “ that I mean to rob you of your 
child. She can come to you as often as you 
wish, and she will not at any time be far away 
from you. But,” with a flush, “ you must par- 
don my presumption, I have not spoken to Miss 
Helen on the subject. I can only hope that my 
answer from her may be favorable. Judge 
Lynn knew of my intention, and by his desire 
I deferred speaking to your daughter until she 
was under your own roof, and I had your per- 
mission to do so.” 


246 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

“I fully appreciate Judge Lynn’s and your 
thoughtfulness,” the father replied. “I will 
not deny that it will be a loss to give Helen to 
any man ; she has grown so into our life. But 
if she chooses you, I cannot refuse your request. 
To know that she is under the care of a good 
man when the time comes for me to leave this 
world will make the passage easier. I would 
rather that you would not speak to Helen on 
the subject for a few weeks. Let the thought 
come to her gradually.” 

“ I will do as you say,” rej)lied the young 
man. “ I am grateful for your confidence. God 
helping me, I will never disappoint you.” 

Helen made her visit at Line Creek, and Mr. 
Livingston visited the parsonage a number of 
times before he pressed his suit ; and then it 
was quickly done and Helen had accepted him 
provided her parents were willing. 

He told her he had previously obtained her 
father’s consent, and urged her to agree to an 
early marriage ; that while he had a comforta- 
ble home with Mr. and Mrs. Warder, he longed 
for a home of his own, and in his work her as- 
sistance and advice would be invaluable. 
“ You see, dear Helen, you are to the manor- 
born, while I am an unfledged student without 
experience except the little I had in mission 
work in New York.” 


CONCLUSION. 


247 


“ My father and mother must decide all these 
questions,” said Helen ; “ I am willing to do 
whatever they think is best.” 

A few days after this Helen received a letter 
from Mrs. Warder in which these words oc- 
curred. “ I am prophet enough to foretell that 
the time is not far distant when you will take 
back the words you said some years ago, and 
be willing to leave your dear father and mother 
and go to live with a man. You see, dear, 
the kind of man you go with makes all the 
difference in the world. We think Mr. Liv- 
ingston is a prize second only to your father, 
and I do not believe if you take him, or 
rather let him take you, you will ever have 
cause to repent your choice.” 

The announcement of the approaching mar- 
riage gave much satisfaction to friends in the 
east. Mr. Livingston had already, through Mr. 
Warder, rented a small dwelling house whose 
chief recommendation had been its location. 
It was situated on a knoll a short distance 
above the pretty winding creek, the view be- 
yond being particularly attractive. This house 
was remodelled to make it a fitting home for 
its new mistress. A new barn was built and 
new fences took the place of the old ones. 

The wedding came off in December. Mr. 
Livingston’s father and mother, and Judge 


248 DONALD patteeson’s datjghtee. 

Lynn and his wife were the only guests from 
abroad. The little church was decorated by 
loving hands in trimmings of evergreen. There 
was neither great show nor ostentation in any- 
thing connected with the bridal arrangements ; 
all was in keeping with the surroundings and 
in view of the life before the young couple. It 
was not the kind of wedding festivities Mrs. 
Livingston had once hoped for her only son, 
but she was content. She was greatly pleased 
with Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, and delighted 
with her new daughter. As Eussell had de- 
cided upon his life work, she could but be 
thankful he had found so suitable a companion. 

Helen had frequently visited her new home 
while in progress of building. Her possessions 
had been previously sent and arranged, and 
now all that remained for the newly married 
ones was to go and begin housekeeping. 

The thirteen miles which separated them 
proved no barrier to frequent intercourse with 
the old home, and scarcely a week passed with- 
out their meeting. 

The church over which Mr. Patterson pre- 
sided prospered greatly. Faithful prayers were 
answered and a revival began, which lasted 
many weeks — a gracious winter harvest. Mr. 
Patterson with only occasional help worked un- 
ceasingly ; his only answer to his wife’s appeals 


CONCLUSION. 


249 


that his health would suffer from the constant 
strain was, “ I must do the Lord’s work while 
it is day, for the night cometh when no man 
can work.” How prophetic were his words ! 
Even then the great bereavement was hovering 
over them. 

After an unusually busy day spent in visit- 
ing from house to house, Mr. Patterson found 
himself the next morning unable to rise from 
his bed. 

His wife took alarm at a circumstance so un- 
usual, and sent for a physician who said the pa- 
tient was run down and needed perfect rest. 
Three days more and he was delirious with a 
raging fever. The doctor did not disguise the 
fact that the case was very serious, the chief 
ray of encouragement being the patient’s orig- 
inally strong constitution. The children were 
sent for and their presence was comforting to 
the afflicted household. 

“ If he only can speak to us once more I ” 
prayed the mother and child as day after day 
the strange delirium kept on, and he lay now 
uttering words of tenderness to his loved ones, 
now urging sinners to repent. 

At last came the answer to their prayers and 
the father in feeble tones was able to speak to 
them in his right mind. 

“Clara,” he said to his wife, “you have been 


250 DONALD PATTEESON’S DAUGHTEE. 


my blessing all the days we have lived together. 
What are the trials we have endured compared 
with the joy we have had in working for the 
Master? I have never repented the decision 
which led us to choose our place of work, and 
with all my present experience I would do it 
again if my life was to be lived over. Do not 
mourn for me, my love ; the time will not be 
long before we shall be reunited.” 

“ Farewell, my faithful Jerusha. You came 
to us in our need and the Lord will reward 
you.” 

To Mr. Livingston he said more than once, 
“ Russell, I value you as my own son. I leave 
my dear ones with you.” 

“Dear father,” replied the young man in 
tremulous tones, “ I will care for them while 
my life lasts.” 

Then turning to Helen who kneeling at the 
bed side held his hand with her face pressed 
upon it : “ My precious child, I have come to 
the end of my journey ; the Master has called 
me. You must not wish to keep me, for I shall 
be with Christ. Comfort your dear mother. 
God of the covenant, I leave them with Thee.” 

Who can describe the desolation of these 
hearts, or the sorrow that fell upon the whole 
community. There was no serious alarm until 
a few days before the end, and the stroke came 


CONCLUSION. 


251 


with a suddenness for which the people were 
totally unprepared. The tidings were quickly 
circulated, and weeping was heard in the house- 
holds of those to whom he had ministered. 

Some in the country knew not of his illness 
until they heard of his death, and they were 
stunned by the shock. From one and all came 
offers of sympathy. Judge Lynn who had been 
apprised of the case arrived in time for the 
funeral. On this day business was suspended ; 
crowds who had known and loved the man, or 
who had esteemed him for his Christian charac- 
ter collected to pay him the last honors. Mul- 
titudes united in testifying their sense of the 
loss of one who had been to them a precious 
friend and pastor. 

The Rev. Dr. Cummings preached the sermon 
from the text: “Well done thou good and 
faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy 
Lord.” 

In reviewing the life of his friend he said, 
“I need not tell you who knew him so well 
how faithful he was, nor that in coming to this 
neighborhood he came in the spirit of self-sac- 
rifice. His intellectual powers were of the 
highest order, and with every quality capable 
of recommending him to a high position in the 
church, he nobly resolved to come where he 
felt the need was greatest. With his talents he 


252 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

might have risen to high eminence in the circles 
of literature, were it not for his single aim to 
preach Christ to those who knew him not ; and 
this choice which he made in his early years, he 
never for one moment regretted. Let his be- 
loved example speak to all of us, and may we 
never forget his counsels, nor fail to follow 
them as Christ shall give us strength.” 

:i: ^ ^ 

Helen remained with her mother while Mr. 
Livingston returned to the duties of his charge. 

It seemed a breath at first, the intimation 
that the one who should succeed Mr. Patterson 
should be his own son-in-law, but as the 
thought grew the desire became universal. It 
was supposed that Mrs. Patterson would reside 
with her daughter ; how much more fitting was 
it that they should return to her, that she need 
not be made to sunder another tie which would 
be hard for her to bear! Prominent among 
the movers in this arrangement were Mr. Hines 
and Mr. Bolton, and on their broaching the 
matter to Judge Lynn he gave it at once his 
unqualified approval. 

Mr. Livingston’s father, who had proposed 
building a new house for his son at Line Creek, 
also thought well of the arrangement now 
suggested, and sent word to Judge Lynn to 
make any additions to the house that might be 


CONCLUSION. 


253 


necessary, the understanding being that the 
parsonage should still be part of the church 
property. 

Directions were therefore given to add two 
or three more rooms to the house and put it in 
thorough repair outside and in. While this 
was going on Mrs. Patterson and Jerusha 
would live at Line Creek, for Mr. Livingston 
positively refused to give up his present charge 
until some one came to take his place. 

Of course the congregation at Line Creek 
were disappointed. Though their minister had 
been with them less than a year his labors had 
been greatly blessed, but under the circum- 
stances they could not withhold their consent 
to his withdrawal. Through correspondence 
the services of a worthy young man were 
obtained, and as soon as the house was ready at 
Cedar Run the family of Mr. Livingston moved 
down to take possession. 

A lower front room which had been Mr. Pat- 
terson’s study was fitted up for his widow, her 
daughter rightly judging no other would be so 
well appreciated by her. While her heart had 
been wrung by her affliction she did not give 
herself up to grief, but with a serene and gentle 
aspect she went in and out before her family, 
and in the church, doing the work that fell to 
her hand, always realizing that the time would 


254 DONALD PATTERSON’S DAUGHTER. 

not be very far distant when she too might join 
her husband in their home above. 

Jerusha remained in the parsonage as devoted 
and faithful to the interests of her new master 
and mistress as she had been to the old. She 
often said, “the only man she had ever seen 
who was worthy of Helen Patterson was the 
very man she had married.” To the little chil- 
dren who came after a while to live in the par- 
sonage Jerusha devoted the most of her time, 
and although she was accused of being more 
partial to Donald, the oldest son, than to the 
others, she would never admit the fact, but 
universally spoke of them all as uncommon 
children. She constantly talked to them of 
their sainted grandsire and enjoyed telling them 
stories of their mother’s early life. 

Helen introduced her husband to the friends 
of her youth. Those who had known her as a 
child rejoiced in her as a woman, and gladly 
welcomed one who in so many traits reminded 
them of their lost friend and pastor. 

And here we will leave them, not to enjoy 
uninterrupted happiness, but with devotion to 
each other and with the earnest desire to spend 
and be spent for Christ while he should give 
them life and opportunity. 


THE END. 



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